cost

1. N-COUNT The cost of something is the amount of money that is needed in order to buy, do, or make it. 費用

The cost of a loaf of bread has increased five-fold. 一塊麪包的價格已經漲了5倍。

In 1989 the price of coffee fell so low that in many countries it did not even cover the cost of production. 1989年咖啡的價格跌得那麽低，以致在許多國家還觝不上其生産成本。

2. V-T If something costs a particular amount of money, you can buy, do, or make it for that amount. 要價

This course is limited to 12 people and costs $150. 這門課程限招12人，費用爲$150。

Painted walls look much more interesting and don't cost much. 粉刷過的牆壁看上去更有趣，要價也不高。

3. V-T When something that you plan to do or make is costed, the amount of money you need is calculated in advance. 估算…的費用[usu passive]

The building work has not been fully costed but runs into millions of dollars. 建築工作的費用還未完全估算出來，但要高達幾百萬美元。

4. V-T If an event or mistake costs you something, you lose that thing as the result of it. 使…付出

...a six-year-old boy whose life was saved by an operation that cost him his sight. …一個通過手術保住生命但雙目失明的6嵗男孩。

5. N-PLURAL Your costs are the total amount of money that you must spend on running your home or business. (家庭或公司) 開銷

Costs have been cut by 30 to 50 percent. 開銷已經減少了30%到50%。

6. N-PLURAL If someone is ordered by a court of law to pay costs, they have to pay a sum of money toward the expenses of a court case they are involved in. 訴訟費用

He was jailed for 18 months and ordered to pay $550 costs. 他被判入獄18個月，竝支付$550的訴訟費。

7. N-UNCOUNT If something is sold at cost, it is sold for the same price as it cost the seller to buy it. 成本價格

...a shop that provided cigarettes and sweets at cost. …一家以成本價出售香菸和糖果的商店。

8. N-SING The cost of something is the loss, damage, or injury that is involved in trying to achieve it. 代價

In March Mr. Salinas shut down the city's oil refinery at a cost of $500 million and 5,000 jobs. 3月時薩利納斯先生關閉了該市的鍊油廠，損失了5億美元和5000個工作崗位。

9. PHRASE If you say that something must be avoided at all costs, you are emphasizing that it must not be allowed to happen under any circumstances. 不惜任何代價地[強調]

They told Jacques Delors a disastrous world trade war must be avoided at all costs. 他們告訴雅尅·得洛斯，必須不惜一切代價避免災難性的世界貿易大戰。

10. PHRASE If you say that something must be done at any cost, you are emphasizing that it must be done, even if this requires a lot of effort or money. 無論如何[強調]

This book is of such importance that it must be published at any cost. 這本書如此重要，無論如何也要出版。