Cost | Mean of cost in English Dictionary

/ˈkɑːst/

• Noun
• the price of something
1. The original cost [=price] of the house was $200,000.
2. She attends college at a cost of $15,000 a year.
3. The average cost of raising a family has increased dramatically.
4. We offer services at a fraction of the cost of other companies.
5. bringing/driving down the cost of computers = lowering/reducing the cost of computers
6. The person at fault in the accident is expected to bear the cost of repairs. [=is expected to pay for the repairs]
7. What's the difference in cost?
8. We were able to update the room for very little cost. [=money, expense]
9. They believe that everyone should have access to adequate medical care, regardless of cost.
• an amount of money that must be spent regularly to pay for something (such as running a business or raising a family)
1. The cost of doing business in this area is high.
2. We need better cost control.
3. The company needs to do some cost cutting. [=needs to find ways to save money]
4. production/manufacturing/operating costs
5. By keeping costs down, the company will make larger profits from its products.
6. the firm's efforts to control costs
7. Those are just some of the hidden costs [=expenses] of owning a house.
8. The government covers most of the costs of the program. [=pays for most of the program]
9. The family's medical costs have increased in the past year.
10. The company has tried to cut costs [=spend less money] in several areas.
• something that is lost, damaged, or given up in order to achieve or get something
1. Winning the war, he believes, was worth the cost in lives.
2. They had won the battle, but at what cost? Far too many people had died.
3. He had achieved fame, but at a cost; he'd lost many friends and no longer talked to anyone in his family.
4. She completed the project on time but at the cost of her health. [=the work she did to complete the project on time damaged her health]
5. He always says what he thinks, even at the cost of hurting someone's feelings.
6. What are the costs and benefits of the new law?
7. She was determined to win at all costs. [=no matter what]
8. Obscene language should be avoided at all costs. [=never use obscene words]
9. He is determined to preserve his reputation at any cost.

• the money used to pay for a court case
1. She was fined 50 dollars and ordered to pay court costs.
• from your own bad experience
1. I found out to my cost that he was a liar. [=I found out that he was a liar when I was hurt by his lies]
• Verb
• to have (an amount of money) as a price
1. Each ticket costs one dollar.
2. How much does it cost? = What does it cost?
3. This house costs more/less than most of the other houses in the area.
4. It costs more than $300,000.
5. (informal) New equipment costs money. [=is expensive]
6. (informal) I want a new car that doesn't cost an arm and a leg. [=that is not too expensive]
• to cause (someone) to pay an amount of money
1. The trip will cost you about $100 each way.
2. The project will end up costing the government an estimated 3.5 billion dollars.
3. It will cost you a lot of money, but it'll be worth it.
4. (informal) I can get the part you need, but it'll cost you. [=you will have to pay a lot of money for it]
5. Come to my party. It won't cost a dime. = It won't cost you a penny.
• to cause (someone) to lose something
1. Her mistakes cost them the game. [=they lost the game because of her mistakes]
2. The decision to drive that night nearly cost him his life. [=he almost died because of it]
3. His frequent absences ended up costing him his job.
4. Changing your mind now could cost you dearly.
• to cause (someone) to experience something unpleasant
1. The error cost me a reprimand, but nothing more serious than that.
2. a blunder that has cost her considerable embarrassment
• to determine how much money will be needed to pay for (something)
1. The project was originally costed at 3 million pounds.
2. The project has yet to be costed out.