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luck (lŭk)
n.

1. The chance happening of fortunate or adverse events; fortune: They met one day out of pure luck.
2. Good fortune or prosperity; success: We wish you luck.
3. One's personal fate or lot: It was just my luck to win a trip I couldn't take.

intr.v. Informal, lucked, luck·ing, lucks.
To gain success or something desirable by chance: lucked into a good apartment; lucked out in finding that rare book.

idioms:

as luck would have it

1. As it turned out; as it happened: As luck would have it, it rained the day of the picnic.

in luck

1. Enjoying success; fortunate.

out of luck

1. Lacking good fortune.

press (or push) (one's) luck

1. To risk one's good fortune, often by acting overconfidently.

try (one's) luck

1. To attempt something without knowing if one will be successful.

[Middle English lucke, from Middle Dutch luc, short for gheluc.]

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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

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