■ adjective
1》 low in price.
↘charging low prices.
↘inexpensive because of inferior quality.
2》 of little worth because achieved in a discreditable way requiring little effort: her moment of ~ triumph.
↘contemptible.
3》 N. Amer. informal miserly.
■ adverb at or for a low price.
Phrases
on the ~ informal at a low cost.
Derivatives
~ish adjective
~ly adverb
~ness noun
Word History
The word ~ derives from the Old English noun cēap , meaning 'bargaining, trade, market', which goes back to Latin caupo 'small trader, innkeeper'. It was frequently found in phrases such as good or great ~ , meaning 'a good deal, a bargain'. The 'market' sense is retained in old place names such as Cheapside and East~ , and the element Chipping in the names of the Cotswold towns Chipping Norton and Chipping Campden. The use of ~ as an adjective dates from the 16th century.