risk

risk1 [ rısk ] noun ***

1. ) count or uncount the possibility that something unpleasant or dangerous might happen:

Most major changes involve some risk.

risk of: The risk of a major nuclear accident must be taken seriously.

the risk of doing something: The risk of developing lung cancer from smoking is a serious one.

risk (that): There is no risk that the virus can be transferred from patient to doctor.

risk to: The risks to consumers from these products need to be fully analyzed.

reduce/increase the risk of something: You can reduce the risk of heart disease by exercising regularly.

an element of risk (=some risk): All outdoor activities carry an element of risk.

worth the risk: We might get away with it, but is it really worth the risk?

a ) count someone or something that is likely to be a danger or problem in the future:

risk to: The agency claimed that the chemical spill is not a risk to the public.

health risk (=something that could be a danger to people's health): Some of these restaurants are a clear health risk to diners.

fire risk (=something that could cause a fire)

Large quantities of such material constitute a potential fire risk.

pose a risk (to someone) (=be a risk): Such prisoners pose no real risk to the public.

2. ) count a person or company considered according to how safe it is to lend them money or give them insurance or CREDIT:

a good/bad risk: Loans to farmers are now considered to be a bad risk.

at risk

in a situation in which something unpleasant or dangerous could happen to you:

at risk to: Reporters going to war zones do so at great risk to themselves.

at risk of: Some plants are more at risk of frost than others.

at risk from: Low-lying farmland may be at risk from flooding this weekend.

put someone/something at risk: The officers said innocent people's lives had been put at risk.

These measures will put many small businesses at risk.

=> AT-RISK

at your own risk

if you do something at your own risk, you are responsible for any harm or damage that you suffer as a result:

You can use it, but you do so at your own risk.

at the risk of doing something

used for saying that you realize something bad or unpleasant may happen as a result of what you are going to say:

At the risk of seeming overly cautious, I don't think we should try it.

run the risk (of something)

to be in a situation in which something bad could happen:

She didn't go, because she didn't want to run the risk of seeing Neil again.

The president runs the risk of assassination with every public appearance.

take a risk

to do something although you know that something unpleasant or dangerous could happen:

Do you think I should take a risk and give her a call?

take the risk of doing something: I didn't want to take the risk of leaving John alone.

=> CALCULATED RISK

risk

risk 2 [ rısk ] verb transitive **

1. ) to do something that makes it possible for something important or valuable to be destroyed, damaged, or lost:

Do you realize how much you're risking by supporting him in this?

risk something on something: It's a lot of money to risk on a start-up company.

a ) risk your life/neck or risk life and limb INFORMAL to do something very dangerous, especially something that could injure or kill you:

The officer risked his life to save the drowning man.

b ) to be in a situation in which something unpleasant or dangerous could happen to you:

risk death: Reports indicated that up to 4,000,000 people risked death from starvation.

risk doing something: We don't want to risk becoming involved in a civil war.

2. ) to do something although you know that something bad could happen as a result:

She risked a quick glance back over her shoulder.

risk doing something: Do you think I should risk sending him a letter?

risk it (=risk doing something): It was a no-parking zone, but I decided to risk it anyway.