cost

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

The cost of a loaf of bread has increased five-fold. 一块面包的价格已经涨了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年咖啡的价格跌得那么低，以致在许多国家还抵不上其生产成本。

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

This course is limited to 12 people and costs $150. 这门课程限招12人，费用为$150。

Painted walls look much more interesting and don't cost much. 粉刷过的墙壁看上去更有趣，要价也不高。

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…的费用[usu passive]

The building work has not been fully costed but runs into millions of dollars. 建筑工作的费用还未完全估算出来，但要高达几百万美元。

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. …一个通过手术保住生命但双目失明的6岁男孩。

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) 开销

Costs have been cut by 30 to 50 percent. 开销已经减少了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. 诉讼费用

He was jailed for 18 months and ordered to pay $550 costs. 他被判入狱18个月，并支付$550的诉讼费。

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

...a shop that provided cigarettes and sweets at cost. …一家以成本价出售香烟和糖果的商店。

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

In March Mr. Salinas shut down the city's oil refinery at a cost of $500 million and 5,000 jobs. 3月时萨利纳斯先生关闭了该市的炼油厂，损失了5亿美元和5000个工作岗位。

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. 不惜任何代价地[强调]

They told Jacques Delors a disastrous world trade war must be avoided at all costs. 他们告诉雅克·得洛斯，必须不惜一切代价避免灾难性的世界贸易大战。

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. 无论如何[强调]

This book is of such importance that it must be published at any cost. 这本书如此重要，无论如何也要出版。