odds
UK /ɒdz/ · US /ɑdz/ noun
Also a form of odd
- noun The ratio of the probability of an event happening to that of it not happening. “I'd say the odds are strongly in favor of the sun rising tomorrow morning.”
- noun The ratio of winnings to stake in betting situations. “I looked at the odds given by all bookmakers.”
- noun (chess) An advantage given to a weaker opponent in order to equalize the game when playing casually, usually by removing one of the stronger player's pieces or by giving the weaker player more time. “She beat me with knight odds but lost with rook odds.”
Synonyms
Etymology
From odd (“uneven, strange”).
Webster’s 1913
- noun Difference in favor of one and against another; excess of one of two things or numbers over the other; inequality; advantage; superiority; hence, excess of chances; probability. "Preëminent by so much odds." Milton. "The fearful odds of that unequal fray." Trench.
- noun Quarrel; dispute; debate; strife; --chiefly in the phraze at odds.
Etymology [See Odd, a.]
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “odds”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details