bet v. & n. --v. (betting;
past and past
part. bet or betted) 1 intr. (foll. by on or
against with ref. to
the outcome)
risk a
sum of
money etc. against another's on the
basis of the
outcome of an
unpredictable event (esp. the
result of a race, game,
etc., or the outcome in a game of chance). 2 tr. risk (an amount) on
such an outcome or result (bet ø10 on a horse). 3 tr. risk a sum of money against (a person). 4 tr. colloq.
feel sure (bet they've
forgotten it). --n. 1 the
act of
betting (make a bet). 2 the money etc. staked (put a bet on). 3 colloq. an
opinion,
esp. a quickly formed or
spontaneous one (my bet is
that he won't come). 4 colloq. a
choice or
course of
action (she's
our best bet). øyou bet
you may be sure. [16th
c.: perh. a shortened
form of ABET]