hazard

Noun

• an obstacle on a golf course

• an unknown and unpredictable phenomenon that causes an event to result one way rather than another
  • bad luck caused his downfall
    
  • we ran into each other by pure chance
    

• a source of danger; a possibility of incurring loss or misfortune
  • drinking alcohol is a health hazard
    

Verb

• take a risk in the hope of a favorable outcome
  • When you buy these stocks you are gambling
    

• put at risk
  • I will stake my good reputation for this
    

• put forward, of a guess, in spite of possible refutation
  • I am guessing that the price of real estate will rise again
    
  • I cannot pretend to say that you are wrong
    

Related words

• Synonyms: 
  luck , fortune , chance , jeopardy , peril , risk , endangerment , gamble , take chances , adventure , run a risk , take a chance , venture , stake , jeopardize , guess , pretend