lottery
/ˈlɒtərɪ/noun
(pl. -ies)
1- a means of raising money by selling numbered tickets and giving prizes to the holders of numbers drawn at random彩票销售及抽奖活动, 抽彩给奖法。
1.1
- in sing. a process or thing whose success or outcome is governed by chance碰运气的事, 难以逆料的事：
the lottery of life.
生活的机缘。
词源
mid 16th cent.: probably from Dutch loterij, from lot 'lot'.