risk // noun, verb

■ noun

ALL-RISK, BUYER RISK, BUYER'S RISK, CARRIER'S RISK, COUNTRY RISK, CREDIT RISK, CURRENCY RISK, EXECUTION RISK, FOREIGN CURRENCY RISK, INFLATION RISK, INSURANCE RISK, INTEREST-RATE RISK, INVENTORY RISK, LIQUIDITY RISK, MARKET RISK, OCCUPATIONAL RISK, REPAYMENT RISK, SOVEREIGN RISK, SYSTEMATIC RISK, SYSTEMIC RISK, UNSYSTEMATIC RISK

1 [C,U]

the possibility of sth bad happening at some time in the future:

Going into partnership allows us to share the financial risks.

There is still a risk that the whole deal will fall through.

Any business venture contains an element of risk.

The high risk deters many investors.

The company's major concern is to limit the risk to profits.

a big/great/high/low/small risk

◆ a growing/real/serious risk (of sth)

◆ economic/financial/health/personal/security risks

◆ to avoid/face/increase/reduce risk

◆ the risks associated with/involved in/posed by sth

2 (Finance ) [U]

the possibility that an asset may rise or fall in value:

an investment with a high degree of risk

These stocks are ideal for investors who do not want too much risk.

❖ to carry/take on risk

◆ high/low risk

3 (Insurance ) [C,U]

the possibility of loss or damage, that sth is insured against:

The goods are insured against all risks.

The policy offers protection against the risk of damage.

❖ to cover (for)/insure against/protect against (a) risk

4 [C] a good/bad/poor risk

a person or business considered from the point of view of whether they are likely to pay back money they borrow, have an accident, etc:

With five previous insurance claims, we're now seen as a bad risk.

The business seemed a good risk and the bank approved the loan.

IDIOMS

at risk

in danger of being lost or damaged; in danger of losing sth or being injured:

Five thousand jobs are at risk.

Taxpayers felt that their money was being put at risk.

do sth at your own risk

to do sth even though you have been warned about the possible dangers and will have to take responsibility for anything bad that happens:

If you send a credit-card number by fax, you do so at your own risk.

Customers park their vehicles here entirely at their own risk.

OWNER, RUN verb, TAKE verb

■ verb [+ obj]

1

to put sth valuable or important in a dangerous situation, in which it could be lost or damaged:

She risked all her capital in the new business.

He would not risk his reputation if he did not think he could get the deal.

2

to be in a situation in which sth bad could happen to you:

Some manufacturing companies risked collapse.

We risk losing our most experienced staff to other firms.

• World Bank
• World Economic Forum
• World Trade Organization
• worldwide
• World Wide Web
• worst-performing
• worth
• worthless
• wow factor
• WP
• wpm
• wrap
• wrapper
• wrapping
• wreck
• wreckage
• writ
• write
• write-back
• write-down
• write-off
• write-protect
• writer
• write-up
• writ of execution