gamble

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition

1. v. To bet on an uncertain outcome, as of a contest.
2. v. To play a game of chance for stakes.
3. v. To take a risk in the hope of gaining an advantage or a benefit.
4. v. To engage in reckless or hazardous behavior: You are gambling with your health by continuing to smoke.
5. v. To put up as a stake in gambling; wager.
6. v. To expose to hazard; risk: gambled their lives in a dangerous rescue mission.
7. n. A bet, wager, or other gambling venture.
8. n. An act or undertaking of uncertain outcome; a risk: I took a gamble that stock prices would rise.

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

1. To play at any game of hazard for a stake; risk money or anything of value on the issue of a game of chance, by either playing or betting on the play of others; hence, to engage in financial transactions or speculations dependent for success chiefly upon chance or unknown contingencies: as, to gamble with cards or dice; to gamble in stocks.
2. Gambling contract. See contract.
3. To lose or squander by gaming: with away or off.
4. n. A venture in gambling or as in gambling; a reckless speculation.
5. n. A leg.

Wiktionary

1. n. A significant risk, undertaken with a potential gain.
2. n. A risky venture
3. v. To take a risk, with the potential of a positive outcome.
4. v. To play risky games, especially casino games, for monetary gain.
5. v. transitive To risk (something) for potential gain.
6. v. To interact with equipment at a casino

GNU Webster's 1913

1. v. To play or game for money or other stake.
2. v. To lose or squander by gaming; -- usually with away.
3. n. colloq. An act of gambling; a transaction or proceeding involving gambling; hence, anything involving similar risk or uncertainty.

WordNet 3.0

1. v. play games for money
2. n. money that is risked for possible monetary gain
3. v. take a risk in the hope of a favorable outcome
4. n. a risky act or venture