/ lɒs; NAmE lɔːs/ noun
1.
[ U , C , usually sing. ] the state of no longer having sth or as much of sth; the process that leads to this :
I want to report the loss of a package.
loss of blood
weight loss
The closure of the factory will lead to a number of job losses .
When she died I was filled with a sense of loss .
loss of earnings (= the money you do not earn because you are prevented from working)
2.
[ C ] money that has been lost by a business or an organization :
The company has announced net losses of $1.5 million.
We made a loss on (= lost money on) the deal.
We are now operating at a loss .
OPP profit
3.
[ C , U ] the death of a person :
The loss of his wife was a great blow to him.
Enemy troops suffered heavy losses .
The drought has led to widespread loss of life .
4.
[ sing. ] the disadvantage that is caused when sb leaves or when a useful or valuable object is taken away; a person who causes a disadvantage by leaving :
Her departure is a big loss to the school.
She will be a great loss to the school.
If he isn't prepared to accept this money, then that's his loss .
—see also dead loss
5.
[ C ] a failure to win a contest :
Brazil's 2–1 loss to Argentina
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IDIOMS
- at a loss
- cut your losses
••
WORD ORIGIN
Old English los destruction , of Germanic origin; related to Old Norse los breaking up of the ranks of an army and loose ; later probably a back-formation from lost , past participle of lose .