1 Answer

cost |kôst|
verb ( past and past participle cost ) [ with obj. ]
1 (of an object or an action) require the payment of (a specified sum of money) before it can be acquired or done: each issue of the magazine costs $2.25.
• cause the loss of: driving at more than double the speed limit cost the woman her driving license.
• informal be expensive for (someone): if you want to own an island, it'll cost you.
2 ( past and past participle costed ) estimate the price of: it is their job to plan and cost a media schedule for the campaign.
noun
an amount that has to be paid or spent to buy or obtain something: we are able to cover the cost of the event | health care costs | the tunnel has been built at no cost to the state.
• the effort, loss, or sacrifice necessary to achieve or obtain something: she averted a train accident at the cost of her life.
PHRASES
at all costs (or at any cost )regardless of the price to be paid or the effort needed: he was anxious to avoid war at all costs.
at cost at cost price; without profit to the seller.
cost an arm and a leg see arm1.
cost someone dearly (or dear )involve someone in a serious loss or a heavy penalty: they were really bad mistakes on my part and they cost us dearly.
ORIGIN Middle English: from Old French coust (noun), couster (verb), based on Latin constare ‘stand firm, stand at a price.’