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parlay

Syllabification: (par·lay)
Pronunciation: /ˈpärˌlā, -lē/

Definition of parlay

verb

[with object] (parlay something into)
  • turn an initial stake or winnings from a previous bet into (a greater amount) by gambling:it involved parlaying a small bankroll into big winnings
  • informal transform into (something greater or more valuable):a banker who parlayed a sizable inheritance into a financial empire an excellent performance is quickly parlayed into lucrative contracts

noun

  • a cumulative series of bets in which winnings accruing from each transaction are used as a stake for a further bet.

Origin:

late 19th century: from French paroli, from Italian, from paro 'like', from Latin par 'equal'

parlay in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of parlay in the British & World English dictionary

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