(~s, ~ing)
Frequency: The word is one of the 700 most common words in English.
Note: The form '~' is used in the present tense, and is also the past tense and participle, except for meaning 4, where the form '~ed' is used.
1.
The ~ of something is the amount of money that is needed in order to buy, do, or make it.
The ~ of a loaf of bread has increased five-fold...
In 1989 the price of coffee fell so low that in many countries it did not even cover the ~ of production...
Badges are also available at a ~ of ?2.50.
N-COUNT: usu sing, oft N of n
2.
If something ~s a particular amount of money, you can buy, do, or make it for that amount.
This course is limited to 12 people and ~s ?50...
It’s going to ~ me over $100,000 to buy new trucks.
VERB: V amount, V n amount
3.
Your ~s are the total amount of money that you must spend on running your home or business.
Costs have been cut by 30 to 50 per cent...
N-PLURAL
4.
When something that you plan to do or make is ~ed, the amount of money you need is calculated in advance.
Everything that goes into making a programme, staff, rent, lighting, is now ~ed.
...seventy apartments, shops, offices, a restaurant and hotel, ~ed at around 10 million pounds.
VERB: usu passive, be V-ed, V-ed
•
Cost out means the same as ~ .
...training days for charity staff on how to draw up contracts and ~ out proposals...
It is always worth having a loft conversion ~ed out.
PHRASAL VERB: V P n (not pron), have n V-ed P, also V n P
5.
If someone is ordered by a court of law to pay ~s, they have to pay a sum of money towards the expenses of a court case they are involved in.
He was jailed for 18 months and ordered to pay ?550 ~s.
N-PLURAL
6.
If something is sold at ~, it is sold for the same price as it ~ the seller to buy it.
...a store that provided cigarettes and candy bars at ~.
= ~ price
N-UNCOUNT: prep N
7.
The ~ of something is the loss, damage, or injury that is involved in trying to achieve it.
In March Mr Salinas shut down the city’s oil refinery at a ~ of $500 million and 5,000 jobs.
...being so afraid of something that you feel you have to avoid it whatever the ~ to your lifestyle.
N-SING: oft N of n
8.
If an event or mistake ~s you something, you lose that thing as the result of it.
...a six-year-old boy whose life was saved by an operation that ~ him his sight...
The increase will hurt small business and ~ many thousands of jobs.
VERB: V n n, V n
9.
If you say that something must be avoided at all ~s, you are emphasizing that it must not be allowed to happen under any circumstances.
They told Jacques Delors a disastrous world trade war must be avoided at all ~s.
PHRASE: PHR after v emphasis
10.
If you say that something must be done at any ~, you are emphasizing that it must be done, even if this requires a lot of effort or money.
This book is of such importance that it must be published at any ~...
PHRASE: PHR after v emphasis
11.
If you say that something ~s money, you mean that it has to be paid for, and perhaps cannot be afforded.
Well-designed clothes ~ money.
PHRASE: V inflects
12.
If you know something to your ~, you know it because of an unpleasant experience that you have had.
Kathryn knows to her ~ the effect of having served a jail sentence...
PHRASE: PHR after v
13.
to ~ someone dear: see dear