cost

[[t]kɔst, kɒst[/t]]

n. v. cost, for11-13, cost•ed, cost•ing.

1) the price paid to acquire, produce, accomplish, or maintain anything

2) an outlay or expenditure of money, time, etc

3) a sacrifice, loss, or penalty:

to work at the cost of one's health[/ex]

4) law costs, money awarded to a successful litigant for legal expenses, charged against the unsuccessful litigant

5) to require the payment of (money or something else of value) in an exchange:

That camera cost $200[/ex]

6) to entail the loss or injury of:

Carelessness costs lives[/ex]

7) to entail (effort or inconvenience):

Courtesy costs little[/ex]

8) to cause to pay or sacrifice:

That request will cost us extra work[/ex]

9) to estimate or determine the cost of (manufactured articles, new processes, etc.)

10) to estimate or determine costs, as of manufacturing something

•

- at all costs

Etymology: 1200–50; ME < AF, OF co(u)ster < L constāre to stand together, be settled, cost