Hazard - Definition

n 1: a source of danger; a possibility of incurring loss or
misfortune; "drinking alcohol is a health hazard" [syn:
hazard, jeopardy, peril, risk, endangerment]
2: an unknown and unpredictable phenomenon that causes an event
to result one way rather than another; "bad luck caused his
downfall"; "we ran into each other by pure chance" [syn:
luck, fortune, chance, hazard]
3: an obstacle on a golf course
v 1: put forward, of a guess, in spite of possible refutation;
"I am guessing that the price of real estate will rise
again"; "I cannot pretend to say that you are wrong" [syn:
guess, venture, pretend, hazard]
2: put at risk; "I will stake my good reputation for this" [syn:
venture, hazard, 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, hazard, take chances, adventure, run a risk,
take a chance]