cost

  • verb (past and past part. cost) 1 require the payment of (a specified sum) in order to be bought or obtained. 2 involve the loss of: his heroism cost him his life. 3 (past and past part. costed) estimate the cost of.

  • noun 1 an amount given or required as payment. 2 the effort or loss necessary to achieve something. 3 (costs) legal expenses.

  — PHRASES at all costs (or at any cost) regardless of the price or the effort needed. at cost at cost price. to someone’s cost with loss or disadvantage to someone.

  — ORIGIN Old French couster, from Latin constare ‘stand firm, stand at a price’.

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