cost

[ kawst, kost ]

/ kɔst, kɒst /

noun

the price paid to acquire, produce, accomplish, or maintain anything: the high cost of a good meal.

an outlay or expenditure of money, time, labor, trouble, etc.: What will the cost be to me?

a sacrifice, loss, or penalty: to work at the cost of one's health.

costs, Law.

money allowed to a successful party in a lawsuit in compensation for legal expenses incurred, chargeable to the unsuccessful party.
money due to a court or one of its officers for services in a cause.

verb (used with object), cost or for 10, cost·ed; cost·ing.

to require the payment of (money or something else of value) in an exchange: That camera cost $200.

to result in or entail the loss of: Carelessness costs lives.

to cause to lose or suffer: The accident cost her a broken leg.

to entail (effort or inconvenience): Courtesy costs little.

to cause to pay or sacrifice: That request will cost us two weeks' extra work.

to estimate or determine the cost of (manufactured articles, new processes, etc.): We have costed the manufacture of each item.

verb (used without object), cost·ed or cost; cost·ing.

to estimate or determine costs, as of manufacturing something.

Verb Phrases past and past participle cost·ed or cost; present participle cost·ing.

cost out, to calculate the cost of (a project, product, etc.) in advance: The firm that hired him just costed out a major construction project last month.

Words nearby cost

cossack, cossack hat, cossacks, cosset, cossie, cost, cost center, cost centre, cost keeper, cost ledger, cost of living

Idioms for cost

at all costs, regardless of the effort involved; by any means necessary: The stolen painting must be recovered at all costs.Also at any cost.

Origin of cost

1200–50; (v.) Middle English costen < Anglo-French, Old French co(u)ster < Latin constāre to stand together, be settled, cost; cf. constant; (noun) Middle English < Anglo-French, Old French, noun derivative of the v.

SYNONYMS FOR cost

1 charge, expense, expenditure, outlay. See price.

3 detriment.

OTHER WORDS FROM cost

cost·less, adjectivecost·less·ness, nounre·cost, verb (used with object), re·cost, re·cost·ing.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

British Dictionary definitions for at all costs

cost

/ (kɒst) /

noun

the price paid or required for acquiring, producing, or maintaining something, usually measured in money, time, or energy; expense or expenditure; outlay

suffering or sacrifice; loss; penaltycount the cost to your health; I know to my cost

the amount paid for a commodity by its sellerto sell at cost
(as modifier)the cost price

(plural) law the expenses of judicial proceedings

at any cost or at all costs regardless of cost or sacrifice involved

at the cost of at the expense of losing

verb costs, costing or cost

(tr) to be obtained or obtainable in exchange for (money or something equivalent); be priced atthe ride cost one pound

to cause or require the expenditure, loss, or sacrifice (of)the accident cost him dearly

to estimate the cost of (a product, process, etc) for the purposes of pricing, budgeting, control, etc

Derived forms of cost

costless, adjective

Word Origin for cost

C13: from Old French (n), from coster to cost, from Latin constāre to stand at, cost, from stāre to stand

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Idioms and Phrases with at all costs (1 of 2)

at all costs

Also, at any cost or price. Regardless of the expense or effort involved, by any means. For example, Ann told the doctor to preserve her mother's sight at all costs, or It seems the company plans to develop the product at any cost, or I'm determined to get vacation time at any price. [Mid-1800s]

Idioms and Phrases with at all costs (2 of 2)

cost

see arm and a leg, cost an; at all costs; pretty penny, cost a.

cost

noun

verb (used with object), cost or for 10, cost·ed; cost·ing.

verb (used without object), cost·ed or cost; cost·ing.

Verb Phrases past and past participle cost·ed or cost; present participle cost·ing.

Content related to cost

Words nearby cost

Idioms for cost

Origin of cost

SYNONYMS FOR cost

OTHER WORDS FROM cost

British Dictionary definitions for at all costs

noun

verb costs, costing or cost

Derived forms of cost

Word Origin for cost

Idioms and Phrases with at all costs (1 of 2)

Idioms and Phrases with at all costs (2 of 2)