cost
cost
Pronunciation
The pronunciation of "cost" depends on the dialect of English. Here are two common pronunciations:
1. American English (General American)
IPA: /ˈkɔst/
Breakdown:
/ˈ/: stress on the first syllable
k/: voiceless velar plosive (similar to the "k" sound in "key") *ɔ/: long open-back rounded vowel (similar to the "aw" sound in "saw") *st/: voiceless alveolar fricative (similar to the "s" sound in "sip") followed by voiceless alveolar plosive (similar to the "t" sound in "top")
2. British English (Received Pronunciation)
IPA: /ˈkɒst/
Breakdown:
/ˈ/: stress on the first syllable
k/: voiceless velar plosive (similar to the "k" sound in "key") *ɒ/: short open-back rounded vowel (not quite the same as the "o" in "cot" but closer than the American "ɔ") *st/: voiceless alveolar fricative (similar to the "s" sound in "sip") followed by voiceless alveolar plosive (similar to the "t" sound in "top")
Word Form Variations
The word "cost" has a few variations in form, but not many due to its irregular verb conjugation:
Singular: cost (present tense, past tense, past participle - for most senses)
Plural: costs (present tense 3rd person singular and plural, noun form for the amount of money spent)
Past Participle (Alternative sense): costed (used in some contexts to refer to the act of estimating a cost, less common)
Here's a breakdown:
Present Tense:
"The car costs a lot." (singular)
"Everything costs more these days." (plural)
Past Tense:
"The repairs cost me a fortune." (singular)
Past Participle (Most Common):
"The project has already been costed." (used to indicate the cost is known)
Past Participle (Alternative):
"We need to cost out the materials before we begin." (less common, refers to estimating the cost)
Noun:
"The rising costs of living are a concern." (plural, refers to the amount of money spent)
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Definitions, Synonyms, Antonyms
Noun:
Definition: The amount of money, resources, effort, or time required to obtain something.
Synonyms: Price, expense, expenditure, outlay, charge, fee
Antonyms: Gain, profit, benefit, income, return
Verb (Most Common):
Definition: To require a particular amount of money, resources, effort, or time to obtain.
Synonyms: Take, require, necessitate, demand (referring to money/resources)
Antonyms: Earn, bring in, generate (referring to money/resources)
Verb (Less Common):
Definition: To estimate the cost of something. (Used primarily in business contexts)
Synonyms: Estimate, calculate, price out, assess (the cost)
Antonyms: None (for this specific meaning)
Examples of Use
Noun:
Book: "The high cost of healthcare is a major concern for many Americans." (J.D. Vance, Hillbilly Elegy)
Newspaper: "The new climate change regulations will increase costs for businesses, but also create new green jobs." (The New York Times, June 2024)
Online Publication: "Here are some tips to cut costs on your next grocery shopping trip." (Budget Bytes website)
Entertainment (Movie): "We need to get to the other side of the mountain before nightfall, but the cost of the shortcut is dangerous." (Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade)
Entertainment (TV): "On today's episode of Shark Tank, entrepreneurs pitch their ideas to investors, but will the sharks be willing to pay the cost?" (Shark Tank)
Public Discourse: "The mayor is proposing a new tax plan to fund education, but critics argue it will place an unfair cost on middle-class families." (Local news broadcast)
Verb (Most Common):
Book: "Building a new house is a dream, but it will definitely cost you a lot of money." (Financial planning guide)
Newspaper: "The war in Ukraine continues to cost lives and disrupt the global economy." (BBC News website)
Online Publication: "Learning a new language can be very rewarding, but it also costs time and dedication." (Duolingo blog)
Entertainment (Movie): "Taking a stand for what's right can sometimes cost you your friendships." (Captain America: The Winter Soldier)
Entertainment (TV): "This recipe is very easy to make and only costs a few dollars." (Cooking competition show)
Public Discourse: "Quitting smoking is one of the best decisions you can make for your health, even if it costs you in the short term." (Public health campaign)
Verb (Less Common):
Business Document: "The marketing team has costed out the new advertising campaign and presented it to the CEO." (Company memo)
Construction Industry: "Before we begin construction, we need to carefully cost out the materials and labour." (Contractor's proposal)
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10 Famous Quotes Using the term Cost
"Peace if possible, truth at all costs." - Walter Lippmann (American journalist)
"There is no glory in battle worth the blood it costs." - Napoleon Bonaparte (French military leader)
"The things that hurt, instruct." - Richard Bach (American writer)
"Anything that costs you your peace is too expensive." - Author Unknown (Quote widely circulated online)
"The best things in life are free, but the second best things are very expensive." - Coco Chanel (French fashion designer)
"Freedom has cost too much blood and agony to be relinquished at the cheap price of rhetoric." - T.S. Eliot (American-British poet)
"It is hard to contend against one's heart's desire; for whatever it wishes to have it buys at the cost of soul." - Søren Kierkegaard (Danish philosopher)
"Haters never win. I just think that's true about life, because negative energy always costs in the end." - Marian Wright Edelman (American activist)
"Fun is like life insurance; the older you get, the more it costs." - Kingsley Amis (British writer)
"Your new life is going to cost you your old one. It is going to cost you your comfort zone and your sense of direction. It costs you relationships and friends. It costs you being liked and understood." - Melody Beattie (American writer)
Etymology
The word "cost" comes from a long journey through languages! It all started with the Latin word "constare," which means "to stand together" or "to cost." Think about it like this: in order to get something, you have to "put things together" – maybe your money, time, or effort.
The Latin word eventually became "coster" in Old French, which then turned into "cost" in Middle English around the 14th century. Back then, it just meant the price you paid for something, similar to how we use it today.
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Phrases + Idioms Containing the term Cost
Price:
Cost an arm and a leg: Extremely expensive.
Cost a fortune: Very expensive.
Cost a pretty penny: Moderately expensive.
Worth the cost: Highlighting that the value outweighs the price.
At all costs: Regardless of the expense or difficulty.
Effort/Sacrifice:
At what cost?: Questioning the consequences or sacrifices made for something.
Count the cost: Considering the potential negative aspects before doing something.
Cost the earth: Requiring a lot of effort or sacrifice.
Come at a cost: Having negative consequences or requiring sacrifice.
Spare no cost: Willing to put in maximum effort or resources.
Other:
Cut costs: Reduce expenses.
Get your money's worth: Receiving a good value for what you paid.
The cost of living: The amount of money needed to maintain a certain standard of living.
The cost of doing business: The expenses associated with running a business.
To one's own cost: Learning something the hard way, through negative experiences.
Posts Related to Cost
Source Information
Definition of cost from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
