cost
Pronunciation: /kɒst/
verb ( past and past participle cost)
- 1(of an object or action) require the payment of (a specified sum of money) before it can be acquired or done: each issue of the magazine costs £1
- cause the loss or unpleasant consequence of:
- informal be expensive for (someone): if you want to own an island, it’ll cost you
noun
- an amount that has to be paid or spent to buy or obtain something: we are able to cover the cost of the event health-care costs
- the effort, loss, or sacrifice necessary to achieve or obtain something: the government succeeded in diverting resources away from consumption at considerable cost to its political popularity
- (costs (or North American also court costs)) legal expenses, especially those allowed in favour of the winning party or against the losing party in a suit: costs may be awarded to a successful private prosecutor out of central funds
Phrases
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at all costs (or at any cost)
- regardless of the price to be paid or the effort needed: he was anxious to avoid war at all costs
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at cost
- at cost price; without profit to the seller.
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cost an arm and a leg
- see arm1.
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cost someone dear (or dearly)
- involve someone in a serious loss or a heavy penalty: they were really bad mistakes on my part and they cost us dear
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to someone's cost
- with loss or disadvantage to someone: without programmes to play on it, the cleverest machine is useless—as some hardware manufacturers already know to their cost
Origin:
Middle English: from Old French coust (noun), couster (verb), based on Latin constare 'stand firm, stand at a price'