0 the amount of money needed to buy, do, or make something -- 价格；费用；成本
When you buy a new computer, you usually get software included at no extra cost (= for no additional money). 买电脑时通常免费附送软件。
In most families, two salaries are essential to cover the cost of (= pay for) raising a family. 对许多家庭来说，要支付孩子学费双职薪水必不可少。
The supermarket chain announced that it was cutting the cost (= reducing the price) of all its fresh and frozen meat. 这家连锁超市宣布其所有鲜肉和冷冻肉降价销售。
It's difficult for most people to deal with the rising cost of (= increasing price of) healthcare. 大多数人都难以承受医疗保健费用的上涨。
I was able to buy the damaged goods at cost (= for only the amount of money needed to produce or get the goods, without any extra money added for profit). 我能以成本价买到残损商品。
We need to cut our advertising costs. 我们需要削减广告支出。
The estimated costs of the building project are well over £1 million. 这项建筑工程的成本预算大大超出100万英镑。
1 something that is given, needed, or lost in order to get a particular thing -- 代价；牺牲；付出
We were going to paint the house ourselves, but when we considered the cost in time and effort, we decided to get a painter to do it for us. 我们本打算自己漆房子，可是考虑到既费时又费力，还是决定请油漆工来做。
The driver managed not to hit the child who ran in front of his car, but only at the cost of injuring himself. 司机避开了在他车前乱跑的小孩，可自己却受了伤。
She has finally got the job she wanted, but at great personal cost (= she has had to give up other things that were important to her). 她最终得到了想要的那份工作，可是个人付出的代价很大。
UK It's not worth getting into an argument with Paula, as I learned to my cost (= from my unpleasant experience of having done so). 不值得和葆拉发生争执，因为我已有过教训。
2 If something costs an amount of money, you must pay that amount to buy or do it. -- 价钱为；需花费
3 to cause someone to lose or destroy something valuable -- 使付出代价；使丧失；使牺牲
Whether or not we go to Spain for our holiday depends on the cost.
Do you agree with the principle that everyone should pay something towards the cost of healthcare?
The average cost of a new house has gone up by 5 percent to £76 500.
Their estimate of the cost of the project was wildly inaccurate.
My main concern about moving to London is the cost of housing.
I didn't read the contract fully before I signed it but I'm counting the cost now.
Victory in the war was achieved at the cost of great human suffering.
He tried to fight for justice, but in the end the personal cost was too high.
