cost

Pluralcosts

Formscosts, costing, cost

1. 1
   pricenouncountable or uncountable

   The amount of money, time, or effort that something needs.

   Like the total at the bottom of a bill you have to pay.

   The cost of the trip was more than we expected.

   We worked hard to keep the cost down.

   UsageSay the cost of something. Businesses try to cut costs.

   Similarprice, expense, outlay, expenditure, charge

2. 2
   be priced atverbtransitive

   To need a certain amount of money to buy or pay for.

   Like a price tag that shows how much money you must hand over.

   These boots cost sixty dollars at the store.

   A movie ticket now costs about fifteen dollars.

   UsageSay it cost ten dollars yesterday (not incorrect: costed). You can say it cost me ten dollars.

   Note
3. 3
   downsidenouncountable or uncountable

   A bad result or loss that comes from doing something.

   Victory came at a heavy cost in lives.

   The cost of ignoring the warning was a ruined harvest.

   UsageOften said as at the cost of something: at the cost of his health.

   Similarprice, toll, sacrifice, penalty

   Oppositebenefit

   Note
4. 4
   cause to loseverbtransitive

   To make someone lose something or suffer because of something that happened or that they did.

   Like a slip of the hand that lets your balloon float away.

   One careless tweet could cost her the job.

   His temper cost him many good friends.

   UsageSay cost someone something: it cost her the job.

   Note

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