### Definition
To gamble means to play a game of chance for money or other stakes. It also refers to staking or risking money—or any valuable item—on an uncertain outcome that depends partly or entirely on chance.
### Examples of Use
- Many people играют в азартные игры to test their luck or skill.
- Investing in volatile stocks can be viewed as a kind of gamble.
### Related Terms
- **Bet:** To risk something, usually money, on the result of a future event.
- **Wager:** A formal or informal bet between two or more parties.
- **Speculate:** To take a financial risk in hopes of potential gain.
### Quotation
> "To gamble is to entrust fortune to uncertainty, seeking either gain or loss through chance."
### Etymology
The term "gamble" emerged in the 18th century from an earlier English dialect word meaning "to play games of chance." It has since expanded to describe both literal gaming and metaphorical risk-taking in various aspects of life.
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**Author’s Summary:** The word “gamble” captures the essence of risking value in uncertain situations, whether in games, finance, or decisions of chance.
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Dictionary.com — 2025-11-30