n.

1. a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances;
   opportunity
   
   • the holiday gave us the opportunity to visit Washington
   • now is your chance
2. an unknown and unpredictable phenomenon that causes an event to result one way rather than another;
   luck, fortune, hazard
   
   • bad luck caused his downfall
   • we ran into each other by pure chance
3. a risk involving danger
   
   • you take a chance when you let her drive
4. a measure of how likely it is that some event will occur; a number expressing the ratio of favorable cases to the whole number of cases possible;
   probability
   
   • the probability that an unbiased coin will fall with the head up is 0.5
5. the possibility of future success;
   prospect
   
   • his prospects as a writer are excellent

v.

1. be the case by chance
   
   • I chanced to meet my old friend in the street
2. take a risk in the hope of a favorable outcome;
   gamble, risk, hazard, take chances, adventure, run a risk, take a chance
   
   • When you buy these stocks you are gambling
3. come upon, as if by accident; meet with;
   find, happen, bump, encounter
   
   • We find this idea in Plato
   • I happened upon the most wonderful bakery not very far from here
   • She chanced upon an interesting book in the bookstore the other day

adj.

1. occurring or appearing or singled out by chance;
   accidental, casual, chance(a)
   
   • their accidental meeting led to a renewal of their friendship
   • seek help from casual passers-by
   • a casual meeting
   • a chance occurrence