Definition of: chance

(chans, chäns) noun
1. The unknown or the undefined cause of events not subject to calculation; luck; fortune.
2. An unknown agency, assumed to account for unusual or unexplained events.
3. The operation of this agency: often personified or, in antiquity, deified.
4. A fortuitous event; an accident.
5. A favorable conjuncture of circumstances; opportunity.
6. Undetermined probability in general; contingency. See synonyms under ACCIDENT, HAZARD, PROBABILITY.
—v. chanced, chanc·ing v.i.
1. To occur accidentally; happen.
—v.t.
2. To take the chance of; hazard: I'll chance it.
3. Archaic To befall; happen to.
—to chance upon To find unexpectedly or undesignedly; come upon; stumble over.
—adjective Occurring by chance; casual; accidental. [<OF cheance <LL cadentia. Doublet of CADENCE, CADENZA.]