gambling

[ gam-bling ]
/ ˈgæm blɪŋ /

noun

the activity or practice of playing at a game of chance for money or other stakes.
the act or practice of risking the loss of something important by taking a chance or acting recklessly: If you don't back up your data, that's gambling.

Origin of gambling

Definition for gambling (2 of 2)

gamble
[ gam-buhl ]
/ ˈgæm bəl /

verb (used without object), gam·bled, gam·bling.

to play at any game of chance for money or other stakes.
to stake or risk money, or anything of value, on the outcome of something involving chance: to gamble on a toss of the dice.

verb (used with object), gam·bled, gam·bling.

noun

any matter or thing involving risk or hazardous uncertainty.
a venture in a game of chance for stakes, especially for high stakes.

Origin of gamble

1150–1200; Middle English gamenen to play (Old English gamenian), with substitution of -le for -en; see game1

OTHER WORDS FROM gamble

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH gamble

gamble gambol

Example sentences from the Web for gambling

British Dictionary definitions for gambling

gamble
/ (ˈɡæmbəl) /

verb

(intr) to play games of chance to win money
to risk or bet (money) on the outcome of an event, sport, etc
(intr often foll by on) to act with the expectation of to gamble on its being a sunny day
(often foll by away) to lose by or as if by betting; squander

noun

a risky act or venture
a bet, wager, or other risk or chance taken for possible monetary gain

Derived forms of gamble

gambler, noun gambling, noun

Word Origin for gamble

C18: probably variant of game 1