noun, verb, cost or, for 10–12, cost⋅ed, cost⋅ing.| 1. | the price paid to acquire, produce, accomplish, or maintain anything: the high cost of a good meal. |
| 2. | an outlay or expenditure of money, time, labor, trouble, etc.: What will the cost be to me? |
| 3. | a sacrifice, loss, or penalty: to work at the cost of one's health. |
| 4. | costs, Law.
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| 5. | to require the payment of (money or something else of value) in an exchange: That camera cost $200. |
| 6. | to result in or entail the loss of: Carelessness costs lives. |
| 7. | to cause to lose or suffer: The accident cost her a broken leg. |
| 8. | to entail (effort or inconvenience): Courtesy costs little. |
| 9. | to cause to pay or sacrifice: That request will cost us two weeks' extra work. |
| 10. | to estimate or determine the cost of (manufactured articles, new processes, etc.). |
| 11. | to estimate or determine costs, as of manufacturing something. |
| 12. | cost out, to calculate the cost of (a project, product, etc.) in advance: to cost out a major construction project. |
| 13. | at all costs, regardless of the effort involved; by any means necessary: The stolen painting must be recovered at all costs. Also, at any cost. |
| an accounting system indicating the cost of items involved in production. |
cost
cost accounting