hazard

haz•ard

[[t]ˈhæz ərd[/t]] n.

1) something causing danger, peril, risk, or difficulty:

the many hazards of the big city[/ex]

2) the absence or lack of predictability; chance; uncertainty

3) spo a bunker, sand trap, or the like, constituting an obstacle on a golf course

4) gam a game played with two dice, an earlier and more complicated form of craps

5) spo (in court tennis) any of the winning openings

6) to offer (a statement, conjecture, etc.) with the possibility of facing criticism, disapproval, failure, or the like; venture:

to hazard a guess[/ex]

7) to put to the risk of being lost; expose to risk

8) to take or run the risk of (a misfortune, penalty, etc.)

9) to venture upon (anything of doubtful issue):

to hazard a dangerous encounter[/ex]

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- at hazard

Etymology: 1250–1300; ME hasard < OF, perh. < Ar al-zahr the die haz′ard•a•ble, adj. haz′ard•er, n. syn: See danger