gamble

 
Pronunciation: /ˈgamb(ə)l/

verb

[no object]
  • 1play games of chance for money; bet: he gambles on football
  • [with object] bet (a sum of money): they gambled their money on cards
  • 2take risky action in the hope of a desired result: he was gambling on the success of his satellite TV channel

noun

[usually in singular]
  • 1an act of gambling: Dad likes a bit of a gamble
  • 2a risky action undertaken with the hope of success: we decided to take a gamble and offer him a place on our staff

Origin:

early 18th century: from obsolete gamel 'play games', or from the verb game1