cost

Universal Words noun, verb noun 1 [C,U] the amount of money that you need in order to buy, make or do sth: the high / low cost of housing * A new computer system has been installed at a cost of ｣80000. * The plan had to be abandoned on grounds of cost. * We did not even make enough money to cover the cost of the food. * Consumers will have to bear the full cost of these pay increases. * The total cost to you (= the amount you have to pay) is ｣3000. 2 (costs) [pl.] the total amount of money that needs to be spent by a business: The use of cheap labour helped to keep costs down. * to cut / reduce costs * running / operating / labour costs * We have had to raise our prices because of rising costs. * Opinion was divided on the potential costs and benefits of the scheme. 3 [U,sing.] the effort, loss or damage that is involved in order to do or achieve sth: the terrible cost of the war in death and suffering * the environmental cost of nuclear power * She saved him from the fire but at the cost of her own life (= she died). * He worked non-stop for three months, at considerable cost to his health. * I felt a need to please people, whatever the cost in time and energy. 4 (costs) (AmE also court costs) [pl.] the sum of money that sb is ordered to pay for lawyers, etc. in a legal case: He was ordered to pay ｣2000 costs. -< PRICE IDIOMS at all cost / costs whatever is needed to achieve sth: You must stop the press from finding out at all costs. at any cost under any circumstances: He is determined to win at any cost. at cost for only the amount of money that is needed to make or get sth, without any profit being added on: goods sold at cost know / learn / find sth to your cost to know sth because of sth unpleasant that has happened to you: He's a ruthless businessman, as I know to my cost. moreatCOUNTv. verb (cost, cost) HELPNOTE In sense 4 costed is used for the past tense and past participle. 1 if sth costs a particular amount of money, you need to pay that amount in order to buy, make or do it: [VN] How much did it cost? * I didn't get it because it cost too much. * Tickets cost ten dollars each. * Calls to the helpline cost 38p per minute. * Don't use too much of it-it cost a lot of money. * All these reforms will cost money (= be expensive). * Good food need not cost a fortune (= cost a lot of money). * [VNN] The meal cost us about ｣40. * This is costing the taxpayer ｣10 billion a year. * [VNtoinf] The hospital will cost an estimated ｣2 million to build. * It costs a fortune to fly first class. 2 to cause the loss of sth: [VNN] That one mistake almost cost him his life. * A late penalty cost United the game (= meant that they did not win the game). * Such behaviour could cost you your place in the team. * [VN] The closure of the factory is likely to cost 1000 jobs. 3 [VNN] to involve you in making an effort or doing sth unpleasant: The accident cost me a visit to the doctor. * Financial worries cost her many sleepless nights. * She would never know how much it cost him to tell her. 4 (costed, costed) [VN] [usuallypassive] ~ sth (out) to estimate how much money will be needed for sth or the price that should be charged for sth: The project needs to be costed in detail. * Their accountants have costed the project at $8.1 million. * Have you costed out these proposals yet? * fully costed proposals seealsoCOSTING IDIOMS cost sb dear to make sb suffer a lot: That one mistake has cost him dear over the years. it will cost you (spoken) used to say that sth will be expensive: There is a de luxe model available, but it'll cost you. moreatARMn.