risk
pronunciation
How to pronounce risk in British English:
UK [rɪsk]
How to pronounce risk in American English:
US [rɪsk]
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- Noun:
- a source of danger; a possibility of incurring loss or misfortune
- a venture undertaken without regard to possible loss or injury
- the probability of becoming infected given that exposure to an infectious agent has occurred
- the probability of being exposed to an infectious agent
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- Verb:
- expose to a chance of loss or damage
- take a risk in the hope of a favorable outcome
Word Origin
- risk
- risk: [17] The ultimate origins of risk have never been satisfactorily explained. English acquired it via French risque from Italian risco, a derivative of the verb riscare ‘run into danger’, but there speculation takes over. One persistent theory is that its ancestral meaning is ‘sail dangerously close to rocks’, and attempts have been made to link it with Greek rhīza ‘cliff’ and Latin resegāre ‘cut off short’ (from the notion of coastal rocks being ‘cut off sharply’ or ‘sheer’). English acquired the French past participial form risqué in the 19th century.
- risk (n.)
- 1660s, risque, from French risque (16c.), from Italian risco, riscio (modern rischio), from riscare "run into danger," of uncertain origin. The anglicized spelling first recorded 1728. Spanish riesgo and German Risiko are Italian loan-words. With run (v.) from 1660s. Risk aversion is recorded from 1942; risk factor from 1906; risk management from 1963; risk taker from 1892.
- risk (v.)
- 1680s, from risk (n.), or from French risquer, from Italian riscare, rischaire, from the noun. Related: Risked; risks; risking.
Antonym
Example
- 1. This poses a regulatory risk .
- 2. Spain looks most at risk .
- 3. The risk is still there .
- 4. Are you are at risk ?
- 5. One such risk is financial .