risk

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Risk

Wikipedia

See also the 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica's article on:

risk.

[edit] English

[edit] Etymology

Latin resicum, risicum, riscus : cliff, récif, Felsklippe, is the direct formal origin for Italian risico, risco, rischio, Spanish riesgo, French risque and Portuguese risco. Latin word comes from a Greek navigation term rhizikon, rhiza which meant "root, stone, cut of the firm land" and was a metaphor for "difficulty to avoid in the sea".

[edit] Pronunciation

•  Audio (US)^{help, file}

[edit] Noun

risk (plural risks)

1. A possible, usually negative, outcome, e.g., a danger.
   • 2006: BBC News website, Farmers warned over skin cancer read at [1] on 14 May 2006

     There was also a "degree of complacency" that the weather in the country was not good enough to present a health risk.

2. The likelihood of a negative outcome.
   • 2006: Trever Ramsey on BBC News website, Exercise 'cuts skin cancer risk' read at [2] on 14 May 2006

     Taking regular exercise, coupled with a healthy diet, reduced the risk of several types of cancer.

3. (Formal use in business, engineering, etc.) The potential (conventionally negative) impact of an event, determined by combining the likelihood of the event occurring with the impact should it occur.
   • 2002: Decisioneering Inc website, What is risk? read at [3] on 14 May 2006

     If there is a 25% chance of running over schedule, costing you a $100 out of your own pocket, that might be a risk you are willing to take. But if you have a 5% chance of running overschedule, knowing that there is a $10,000 penalty, you might be less willing to take that risk.

[edit] Derived terms

• market risk
• credit risk
• currency risk
• operational risk
• political risk
• financial risk
• residual risk
• health risk
• inflation risk
• risk management
• risk assessment
• risk analysis

[edit] Translations

[edit] Verb

to risk (third-person singular simple present risks, present participle risking, simple past and past participle risked)

1. (transitive) To incur risk [to something].
   • 2006, BBC Sport website, Beckham wary over Rooney comeback read at [4] on 14 May 2006

     England captain David Beckham has warned Wayne Rooney not to risk his long-term future by rushing his return from injury.

2. (transitive) To incur risk [of something].
   • 2006, Transportation Alternatives website, Rail delays as thieves cut power read at [5] on 14 May 2006

     These people are putting themselves in danger by physically being on or near to the railway lines and risking serious injury.

3. (transitive) To incur risk [by something].
   • 1999, BBC News website, Volunteer of the Month: Andrew Hay McConnell read at [6] on 14 May 2006

     After coming to New York, I decided to risk cycling again.

[edit] Usage notes

• This is a catenative verb that takes the gerund (-ing). See Appendix:English catenative verbs

[edit] Translations

[edit] Homophones

• RISC
• risque rare dialect

[edit] Anagrams

• Alphagram: ikrs
• irks
• kris, Kris

[edit] Swedish

[edit] Pronunciation

•  audio^{help, file}

[edit] Noun

risk c.

1. risk