hazard

n 1: a source of danger; "drinking alcohol is a health hazard"

[syn: {jeopardy}, {peril}, {risk}]

2: an unknown and unpredictable phenomenon that causes an event

to result one way rather than another; "bad luck caused

his downfall"; "it was a chance meeting" [syn: {luck}, {fortune},

{chance}]

3: an obstacle on a golf course

v 1: out forward, of a guess [syn: {guess}, {venture}]

2: put at risk; "I will stake my good reputation for this"

[syn: {venture}, {adventure}, {stake}, {jeopardize}]

3: take a risk in the hope of a favorable outcome; "When you

buy these stocks you are gambling" [syn: {gamble}, {chance},

{risk}, {take chances}, {adventure}, {run a risk}, {take

a chance}]