| / English Dictionary |
LUCK
| Pronunciation (US): |  | (GB): | |
I. (noun)
Sense 1
Meaning:
An unknown and unpredictable phenomenon that causes an event to result one way rather than another
Example:
we ran into each other by pure chance
Synonyms:
Classified under:
Nouns denoting natural phenomena
Hypernyms ("luck" is a kind of...):
phenomenon (any state or process known through the senses rather than by intuition or reasoning)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "luck"):
bad luck; mischance; mishap (an unpredictable outcome that is unfortunate)
even chance; toss-up; tossup (an unpredictable phenomenon)
Sense 2
Meaning:
An unknown and unpredictable phenomenon that leads to a favorable outcome
Example:
it was as if fortune guided his hand
Synonyms:
fortune; luck
Classified under:
Nouns denoting natural phenomena
Hypernyms ("luck" is a kind of...):
phenomenon (any state or process known through the senses rather than by intuition or reasoning)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "luck"):
fluke; good fortune; good luck (a stroke of luck)
Derivation:
lucky (occurring by chance)
lucky (having or bringing good fortune)
Sense 3
Meaning:
Your overall circumstances or condition in life (including everything that happens to you)
Example:
success that was her portion
Synonyms:
circumstances; destiny; fate; fortune; lot; luck; portion
Classified under:
Nouns denoting stable states of affairs
Hypernyms ("luck" is a kind of...):
condition (a mode of being or form of existence of a person or thing)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "luck"):
good fortune; good luck; luckiness (an auspicious state resulting from favorable outcomes)
providence (a manifestation of God's foresightful care for his creatures)
bad luck; ill luck; misfortune; tough luck (an unfortunate state resulting from unfavorable outcomes)
failure (lack of success)
II. (verb)
Sense 1
Present simple (first person singular and plural, second person singular and plural, third person plural) of the verb luck
Context examples:
In camp and on trail, Edith Nelson was always with him, sharing his luck, his hardship, and his toil.
(Love of Life and Other Stories, by Jack London)
We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up.
(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
“Ever in luck's way, Nigel!” quoth Sir John.
(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
“We’re in luck, Roddy,” whispered Jim. “Here’s one of the windows open.”
(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
Short of that, it is all guess and luck—and will generally be ill-luck.
(Emma, by Jane Austen)
Now, Watson, we’ll just take our luck together, as we have occasionally in the past.
(His Last Bow, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
And if I have good luck, your mother shall have some.
(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)
No, no, let me shift for myself; and, perhaps, if I have very good luck, I may meet with another Mr. Collins in time.
(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)
Well! I was young once, but I never was very handsome—worse luck for me.
(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)
However, we had no luck, for just as Trelawney fired, down he stooped, the ball whistled over him, and it was one of the other four who fell.
(Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson)
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