percentˈage noun

1. Rate per hundred
2. An allowance of so much for every hundred
3. A proportional part
4. Commission (informal)
5. Profit, advantage (informal)

percentˈal or percenˈtile adjective

percenˈtile noun

1. The value below which falls a specified percentage (eg 25, 50 or 75) of a large number of statistical units (eg scores in an examination)
2. Percentile rank

percentile rank noun

Grading according to percentile group

play the percentages

(in sport, gambling, etc) to play, operate or proceed by means of unspectacular safe shots, moves, etc as opposed to spectacular but risky ones which may not succeed, on the assumption that this is more likely to lead to success in the long run