cost
noun
/kɒst/
cost of something the high/low cost of housing
at a cost of something A new computer system has been installed at a cost of £80 000.
You could buy a used car at a fraction of the cost of a new one.
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 plan had to be abandoned on grounds of cost.
cost to somebody The total cost to you (= the amount you have to pay) is £3 000.
cost for somebody/something Energy is a major cost for businesses.
He estimates the cost for this project at $150 000.
Collocations
adjective
verb + cost
cost + verb
cost + noun
preposition
at a cost of
cost to
phrases
an increase in cost
a reduction in cost
at great cost…
2 costs plural the total amount of money that needs to be spent by a business The use of cheap labour helped to keep costs down.
Reducing costs means we can keep prices as low as possible.
We have to find new ways of cutting costs.
The company is focused on lowering its operating costs.
We have had to raise our prices because of rising costs.
Opinion was divided on the potential costs and benefits of the scheme.
the cost of something the terrible cost of the war in death and suffering
the environmental cost of nuclear power
at the cost of something She saved him from the fire at the cost of her own life (= she died).
at… cost Victory came at a high cost.
at… cost in something They advanced a few hundred metres, but at a heavy cost in life.
at (a) cost to something He worked non-stop for three months, at considerable cost to his health.
cost in something I felt a need to please people, whatever the cost in time and energy.
4 costs (also court costs) plural the sum of money that somebody is ordered to pay for lawyers, etc. in a legal case He was ordered to pay £2 000 costs.
Collocations
adjective
verb + costs
be awarded
Idioms
Word Origin
Middle English: from Old French coust (noun), couster (verb), based on Latin constare ‘stand firm, stand at a price’.
e.g.