not find
1 [VN] to be unable to find sth/sb:
I've lost my keys. * The tickets seem to have got lost. * She lost her husband in the crowd.
have sth taken away
2 [VN] to have sth/sb taken away from you by accident, old age, death, etc:
She lost a leg in a car crash. * to lose your hair / teeth (= as a result of getting old) * He's lost his job. * Some families lost everything (= all they owned) in the flood. * They lost both their sons (= they were killed) in the war. * The ship was lost at sea. * Many people lost their lives (= were killed).
3 [VN] ~ sth (to sb) to have sth taken away by sb/sth:
The company has lost a lot of business to its competitors.
4 [VN] to have to give up sth; to fail to keep sth:
You will lose your deposit if you cancel the order. * Sit down or you'll lose your seat.
have less
5 [VN] to have less and less of sth, especially until you no longer have any of it:
to lose your confidence * He lost his nerve at the last minute. * She seemed to have lost interest in food. * At that moment he lost his balance and fell. * I've lost ten pounds since I started this diet. * The train was losing speed.
not understand / hear
6 [VN] to fail to get, hear or understand sth:
His words were lost (= could not be heard) in the applause.
7 [VN] (informal) to be no longer understood by sb:
I'm afraid you've lost me there.
escape
8 [VN] to escape from sb/sth:
We managed to lose our pursuers in the darkness.
not win
9 ~ (sth) (to sb)
