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cost

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noun British English pronunciation: cost /kɒst/ 
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singularcost
pluralcosts
Other entries for this word
  1. 1
    [countable/uncountable] the amount of money that is needed in order to buy, pay for, or do something
    cost of:

    A rise in interest rates will increase the cost of borrowing.

    cover the cost of something (=be enough to pay for something):

    We need money to cover the cost of heating.

    the cost of doing something:

    The cost of rebuilding the theatre will be £13 million.

    at a cost of:

    We're organizing a trip to London, at a cost of £15 per head (=for each person).

    cost to:

    This scheme helps homeless people at no cost to the taxpayer.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of cost
    See also  cost of living
  2. 2
    [countable/uncountable] damage or loss that is caused to something good or worth having
    cost of:

    the serious environmental costs of the new road network

    cost to:

    They decided to divorce, whatever the cost to their children.

    at a cost of:

    The plant closed down at a cost of over 1,000 jobs.

    the social/human costs of something:

    the social costs of unemployment

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of cost
  3. 3

    costs

     [plural] money that an individual or organization must spend regularly on things like electricity, rent, and travel

    Higher fuel prices will lead to increased costs for car owners.

    Housing and office costs are very high in Tokyo.

    cut/reduce costs:

    New technology has helped us to cut costs.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of cost
    1. a.
      all the money that a business must spend to produce something or to provide a service

      At these prices, we are not even covering our costs.

      manufacturing costs

      Thesaurus entry for this meaning of cost
    See also  running costs, operating costs
  4. 4

    costs

     [plural] legal money that someone involved in a court case must give in order to help to pay for the lawyers and the court, usually after they have lost the case

    He was ordered to pay a fine of £250 plus £100 costs.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of cost

This is the British English definition of cost. View American English definition of cost.

Change your default dictionary and thesaurus to American English.

View the pronunciation for cost.

 

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