Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English - risk

~1 n 1 »POSSIBILITY OF BAD RESULT« the possibility that something bad, unpleasant, or dangerous may happen  (If you're considering starting a business, think carefully about the risks involved.) + of  (the risk of serious injury) reduce/increase the risk of  (Wear rubber gloves to reduce the risk of infection.) + tha  (There was some risk that fire would break out again.) a calculated risk (=a risk you think will have a good result)  (It was a calculated risk to appoint a man without management experience to such a senior post. | an element of risk (=some risk, but not much))  (There's an element of risk in any kind of investment. | it's worth the risk)  (I never walk home alone at night - it's not worth the risk.) 2 take a risk to decide to do something even though you know it may have bad results  (The fuel tank could blow up, but that's a risk we'll have to take.) 3 at risk be in a situation where you may be harmed  (We must stop these rumours; the firm's reputation is at risk. | be at risk of)  (People with fair skins are more at risk of skin cancer. | put sb/sth at risk)  (I've no respect for a man who would put his children at risk like that.) 4 run a risk to be in a situation where there is a risk of something bad happening to you  (Anyone travelling without a passport runs the risk of being arrested.) 5 at the risk of doing sth used when you think that what you are going to say or do may have a bad result, may offend or annoy people etc  (At the risk of sounding stupid, can I ask a simple question?) 6 at your own risk if you do something at your own risk, you do it even though you understand the possible dangers and have been warned about them  (You leave valuables in the classroom at your own risk.) 7 »CAUSE OF DANGER« something or someone that is likely to cause harm or danger  (Polluted water supplies are a risk to public health.) health risk (=something likely to harm people's health)  (Meat from the infected animals is regarded as a serious health risk. | fire risk (=something that could cause a dangerous fire))  (The tyre dump is a major fire risk. | security risk (=someone who may tell important secrets to an enemy country)) 8 »INSURANCE/BUSINESS« a person or business judged according to the danger involved in giving them insurance or lending them money  (a good/bad/poor risk)  (a good credit risk | Drivers under 21 are regarded as poor risks by insurance companies.) ~2 v 1 to put something in a situation in which it could be lost, destroyed, or harmed  (When children start smoking, they don't realize that they're risking their health. | risk sth on sth)  (You'd be crazy to risk your money on an investment like that! | risk your life)  (Martina risked her life to save her dog from the fire. | risk your neck informal (=do something very dangerous in order to help someone))  (I'm not going to risk my neck just to save a common criminal. | risk life and limb (=do something very dangerous))  (Why risk life and limb jumping out of a plane with a parachute on your back?) 2 to get into a situation where something unpleasant may happen to you  (risk defeat/death/dismissal etc)  (The government risks an embarrassing defeat if it calls an election now. | risk being defeated/killed/dismissed etc)  (Workers who broke the strike risked being attacked when they left the factory.) 3 to do something that you know may have dangerous or unpleasant results  (risk doing sth)  (Are you prepared to risk traveling without an armed guard? | risk it spoken)  (You could slip out of school between classes, but I wouldn't risk it.)