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risk

n. · v.
US //ˈɹɪsk// UK //ɹˈɪsk// risk
  1. 1 possibility of danger (n.)
    B1 Intermediate

    the chance that something bad, unpleasant, or dangerous will happen.

    the probability or likelihood of a negative occurrence or undesirable outcome.

    Example

    Skiing without a helmet carries a high risk of head injury.

    Example

    The financial advisor warned that the investment carried a significant risk of capital loss due to market volatility.

    Usage

    Often used in the patterns 'risk of [noun/gerund]' or 'at risk'.
    Pitfall
    There is a risk for a fire.
    There is a risk of fire.

    Use the preposition 'of' after risk to describe the specific danger.

  2. 2 a specific threat (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    a person or thing that is likely to cause a problem or danger.

    a specific factor, person, or entity representing a potential source of harm or loss.

    Example

    The old electrical wiring in the house is a serious fire risk.

    Example

    Insurance companies often view young, inexperienced drivers as a higher risk and charge them higher premiums accordingly.
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  1. 3 to put in danger (v.)
    B1 Intermediate

    to do something that might cause you to lose something or experience something bad.

    to expose someone or something to the possibility of harm, loss, or failure.

    Example

    He didn't want to risk his health by working too many hours.

    Example

    The captain refused to risk the lives of his crew by sailing into the heart of the storm.

    Usage

    Transitive verb; when followed by another action, use the -ing form (e.g., 'risk losing').
  2. 4 to take a chance (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    to do something even though you know it might fail or have a bad result.

    to undertake an action despite the awareness of potential negative consequences.

    Example

    I'll risk a guess and say the train is going to be late.

    Example

    Few entrepreneurs are willing to risk their entire life savings on a single unproven business concept.
Origin

From earlier risque, from Middle French risque, from Old Italian risco (“risk”) (modern Italian rischio) and rischiare (“to run into danger”). Displaced native Old English pleoh (“risk”) and plēon (“to risk”). speculation on earlier roots Most dictionaries consider the etymology of these Italian terms uncertain, but some suggest they perhaps come from Vulgar Latin *resecum (“that which cuts, rock, crag”) (> Medieval Latin resicu), from Latin resecō (“cut off, loose, curtail”, verb), in the sense of that which is a danger to boating or shipping; or from Ancient Greek ῥιζικόν (rhizikón, “root, radical, hazard”). A few dictionaries express more certainty. Collins says the Italian risco comes from Ancient Greek ῥίζα (rhíza, “cliff”) due to the hazards of sailing along rocky coasts. The American Heritage says it probably comes from Byzantine Greek ῥιζικό, ριζικό (rhizikó, rizikó, “sustenance obtained by a soldier through his own initiative, fortune”), from Arabic رِزْق (rizq, “sustenance, that which God allots”), from Classical Syriac ܪܘܙܝܩܐ ,ܪܙܩܐ (rezqā, rōzīqā, “daily ration”), from Middle Persian [script needed] (rōčig), from Middle Persian [script needed] (rōč, “day”), from Old Persian [script needed] (raučah-), from Proto-Indo-European lewk-. Karla Mallette derives the word from Arabic رِزْق (rizq, “sustenance, that which God allots”) via Sabir. Cognate with Spanish riesgo, Portuguese risco

Idioms3 entries

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