the price paid to acquire, produce, accomplish, or maintain anything

the high cost of a good meal.

an outlay or expenditure of money, time, labor, trouble, etc.

What will the cost be to me?

a sacrifice, loss, or penalty

to work at the cost of one's health.

costs, Law .

money allowed to a successful party in a lawsuit in compensation for legal expenses incurred, chargeable to the unsuccessful party.

money due to a court or one of its officers for services in a cause.

to require the payment of (money or something else of value) in an exchange

That camera cost

to result in or entail the loss of

Carelessness costs lives.

to cause to lose or suffer

The accident cost her a broken leg.

to entail (effort or inconvenience)

Courtesy costs little.

to cause to pay or sacrifice

That request will cost us two weeks' extra work.

to estimate or determine the cost of (manufactured articles, new processes, etc.).

to estimate or determine costs, as of manufacturing something. ?

cost out, to calculate the cost of (a project, product, etc.) in advance

to cost out a major construction project.

at all costs

regardless of the effort involved; by any means necessary

The stolen painting must be recovered at all costs. Also, at any cost.

noun

repayment , retribution

noun

amount , arm and a leg , bad news * , bite * , bottom dollar , bottom line * , charge , damage * , disbursement , dues , expenditure , figure , line , nick * , nut * , outlay , payment , price , price tag , rate , score * , setback * , squeeze * , tab , tariff , ticket , toll , top dollar , value , worth , damage , deprivation , detriment , expense , forfeit , forfeiture , harm , hurt , injury , loss , suffering , sacrifice , pyrrhic victory , surcharge

verb

amount to be asked , be demanded , be given , be marked at , be needed , be paid , be priced at , be received , be valued at , be worth , bring in , come to , mount up , move back , nick * , rap * , require , sell at , sell for , set back , take , to the tune of , yield , do disservice to , expect , hurt , infuriate , lose , necessitate , obligate , go for , charge , damage , defray , economize , estimate , expenditure , expense , fee , harm , loss , meet , pain , pay , penalty , price , retrench , sacrifice , suffering , toll , value