lottery

英 [ˈlɒtəri]

美 [ˈlɑːtəri]

n. (用发行彩票为政府、慈善机构等集资的)抽彩给奖法; 碰运气的事

复数：lotteries　

Collins.1 / BNC.10483 / COCA.6027

牛津词典

noun

（用发行彩票为政府、慈善机构等集资的）抽彩给奖法
a way of raising money for a government, charity, etc. by selling tickets that have different numbers on them that people have chosen. Numbers are then chosen by chance and the people who have those numbers on their tickets win prizes.
1. the national/state lottery
  全国的 / 州的彩票抽奖
2. a lottery ticket
  彩票
碰运气的事
a situation whose success or result is based on luck rather than on effort or careful organization
1. Some people think that marriage is a lottery.
  有些人认为婚姻靠的是运气。

N-COUNT （通过发行彩票方式的）抽彩给奖法，博彩
Alotteryis a type of gambling game in which people buy numbered tickets. Several numbers are then chosen, and the people who have those numbers on their tickets win a prize.
1. ...the national lottery.
  国家博彩
N-SING 听天由命的事；全凭运气的事
If you describe something asa lottery, you mean that what happens depends entirely on luck or chance.
1. The stockmarket is a lottery...
  股市买卖全看运气。
2. Which judges are assigned to a case is always a bit of a lottery.
  一个案子安排哪些法官来审理，往往有点看运气。

noun

players buy (or are given) chances and prizes are distributed by casting lots
Synonym:drawing
something that is regarded as a chance event
1. the election was just a lottery to them

Don't pull my leg. I know you did not really win the lottery.
别开我的玩笑了。我知道你没真的中彩券。
The stockmarket is a lottery
股市买卖全看运气。
People stood in a long queue to buy lottery tickets.
人们排起了长龙买彩票。
We freaked out when we won the lottery.
中了奖券，我们兴奋极了。
He won a TV in the lottery.
他抽奖得了一台电视。
You won a lottery? Don't beat around the bush, just tell me, please.
你彩票中奖了？别拐弯抹角了，请告诉我。
Jack: Do you know I won the lottery?
杰克：我中奖了，你知道吗？
Xu: I know, you bought the disaster lottery, and why did you change your mind?
徐：我知道，你买了灾难彩票，你为什么变卦了？
I'm not wasting any more of my money on lottery tickets.
我不会再在彩票上浪费钱了。
Finding a house in Beijing is a lottery even at the best of times.
即使在情况最好的时候，在北京找房子也是一件毫无把握的事。