Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Cost \Cost\, n. [OF. cost, F. co[^u]t. See {Cost}, v. t. ]
   1. The amount paid, charged, or engaged to be paid, for
      anything bought or taken in barter; charge; expense;
      hence, whatever, as labor, self-denial, suffering, etc.,
      is requisite to secure benefit.

            One day shall crown the alliance on 't so please
            you, Here at my house, and at my proper cost.
                                                  --Shak.

            At less cost of life than is often expended in a
            skirmish, [Charles V.] saved Europe from invasion.
                                                  --Prescott.

   2. Loss of any kind; detriment; pain; suffering.

            I know thy trains, Though dearly to my cost, thy
            gins and toils.                       --Milton.

   3. pl. (Law) Expenses incurred in litigation.

   Note: Costs in actions or suits are either between attorney
         and client, being what are payable in every case to the
         attorney or counsel by his client whether he ultimately
         succeed or not, or between party and party, being those
         which the law gives, or the court in its discretion
         decrees, to the prevailing, against the losing, party.

   {Bill of costs}. See under {Bill}.

   {Cost free}, without outlay or expense. ``Her duties being to
      talk French, and her privileges to live cost free and to
      gather scraps of knowledge.'' --Thackeray.

Cost \Cost\ (k?st; 115), n. [L. costa rib. See {Coast}.]
   1. A rib; a side; a region or coast. [Obs.] --Piers Plowman.

            Betwixt the costs of a ship.          --B. Jonson.

   2. (Her.) See {Cottise}.

Cost \Cost\ (k[o^]st; 115), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Cost}; p. pr. &
   vb. n. {Costing}.] [OF. coster, couster, F. co[^u]ter, fr. L.
   constare to stand at, to cost; con- + stare to stand. See
   {Stand}, and cf. {Constant}.]
   1. To require to be given, expended, or laid out therefor, as
      in barter, purchase, acquisition, etc.; to cause the cost,
      expenditure, relinquishment, or loss of; as, the ticket
      cost a dollar; the effort cost his life.

            A diamond gone, cost me two thousand ducats. --Shak.

            Though it cost me ten nights' watchings. --Shak.

   2. To require to be borne or suffered; to cause.

            To do him wanton rites, which cost them woe.
                                                  --Milton.

   {To cost dear}, to require or occasion a large outlay of
      money, or much labor, self-denial, suffering, etc.

Cost \Cost\ (k[o^]st; 115), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Cost}; p. pr. &
   vb. n. {Costing}.] [OF. coster, couster, F. co[^u]ter, fr. L.
   constare to stand at, to cost; con- + stare to stand. See
   {Stand}, and cf. {Constant}.]
   1. To require to be given, expended, or laid out therefor, as
      in barter, purchase, acquisition, etc.; to cause the cost,
      expenditure, relinquishment, or loss of; as, the ticket
      cost a dollar; the effort cost his life.

            A diamond gone, cost me two thousand ducats. --Shak.

            Though it cost me ten nights' watchings. --Shak.

   2. To require to be borne or suffered; to cause.

            To do him wanton rites, which cost them woe.
                                                  --Milton.

   {To cost dear}, to require or occasion a large outlay of
      money, or much labor, self-denial, suffering, etc.

Source : WordNet®

cost
     v 1: be priced at; "These shoes cost $100" [syn: {be}]
     2: require to lose, suffer, or sacrifice; "This mistake cost
        him his job"

cost
     n 1: the total spent for goods or services including money and
          time and labor
     2: the property of having material worth (often indicated by
        the amount of money something would bring if sold); "the
        fluctuating monetary value of gold and silver"; "he puts a
        high price on his services"; "he couldn't calculate the
        cost of the collection" [syn: {monetary value}, {price}]
     3: value measured by what must be given or done or undergone to
        obtain something; "the cost in human life was enormous";
        "the price of success is hard work"; "what price glory?"
        [syn: {price}, {toll}]