luck
//lʌk//
informalForms
- Plural
- lucks
- present (v1)
- luck
- past (v2)
- lucked
- past participle (v3)
- lucked
- present participle
- lucking
- 3rd person singular
- lucks
Definitions
1.Something that happens to someone by chance, a chance occurrence.
- The raffle is just a matter of luck.
- Sometimes it takes a bit of luck to get success.
- I couldn't believe my luck when I found a fifty dollar bill on the street.
2.A superstitious feeling that brings fortune or success.
- I wish you lots of luck for the exam tomorrow.
- He blew on the dice for luck.
3.Success.
- I tried for ages to find a pair of blue suede shoes, but didn't have any luck.
- He has a lot of luck with the ladies. Perhaps it's because of his new motorbike.
4.The results of a random number generator.
- The creators of tool-assisted speedruns often manipulate luck to get the most favorable results in order to save the most time.
1.To find something through good fortune; used with into, on, onto or upon.(informal)
- I lucked upon a seat, settled in, nodded off and 20 minutes later heard my name being called by the admitting nurse.
- But then I lucked on a backpackers' lodge lying half-hidden behind some trees right next to the road. It was a considerable relief to both my mind and my muscles.
Frequency
Overall
Common· #1798
By learning goal
- Everyday conversation
- Common
- General reading & writing
- Common
- Academic
- Rare
- Literature
- Rare
Related words
Etymology
From Middle English luk, lukke, related to Old Frisian luk (“luck”), West Frisian gelok (“luck”), Saterland Frisian Gluk (“luck”), Dutch geluk (“luck, happiness”), Low German luk (“luck”), German Glück (“luck, good fortune, happiness”), Danish and Norwegian Bokmål lykke (“luck, happiness”), Norwegian Nynorsk lukke (“luck, happiness”), Swedish lycka (“luck, happiness”), Icelandic lukka (“happiness”). According to the OED, it may be related to lock.