adj. & adv.
--adj.
1. low in price; worth more than its cost (a cheap holiday; cheap labour).
2 charging low prices; offering good value (a cheap restaurant).
3 of poor quality; inferior (cheap housing).
4 a costing little effort or acquired by discreditable means and hence of little worth (cheap popularity; a cheap joke). b contemptible; despicable (a cheap criminal).
--adv. cheaply (got it cheap).
Phrases and idioms:
cheap and nasty of low cost and bad quality. dirt cheap very cheap. feel cheap feel ashamed or contemptible. on the cheap cheaply.
Derivatives:
cheapish adj. cheaply adv. cheapness n.
Etymology: obs. phr. good cheap f. cheap a bargain f. OE ceap barter, ult. f. L caupo innkeeper