no obj.
1- play games of chance for money; bet赌博; 打赌：
she was fond of gambling on cards and horses.
她喜欢赌牌和赌马。
1.1
- with obj. bet (a sum of money) in such a way用（钱）下注, 以（钱）打赌：
he was gambling every penny he had on the spin of a wheel.
他把所有的钱都变成了轮盘上的赌注。
1.2
- figurative take risky action in the hope of a desired result〈喻〉冒险, 投机：
with clause the British could only gamble that something would turn up.英国人只有孤注一掷, 希望事情会有转机。
usu. in sing.
- an act of gambling; an enterprise undertaken or attempted with a risk of loss and a chance of profit or success赌博; （带冒险性的）项目（或计划）。
派生词
gambler
noun词源
early 18th cent.: from obsolete gamel 'play games', or from the verb GAME1.