loss
[noun]
Synonyms:
- defeat, failure, forfeiture, mislaying, squandering, waste
- damage, cost, destruction, harm, hurt, injury, ruin
- sometimes plural: deficit, debit, debt, deficiency, depletion
- at a loss: confused, at one's wits' end, baffled, bewildered, helpless, nonplussed, perplexed, puzzled, stumped

---

Related Words: forfeit, forfeiture, sacrifice, bereavement, deprivation, deprivement, dispossession, divestiture, divestment, privation

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

loss S2 W1 /lɒs $ lɒːs/ noun
[Word Family: noun: loser, loss; verb: lose; adjective: lost]
[Language: Old English; Origin: los 'destruction']

1. [uncountable and countable] the fact of no longer having something, or of having less of it than you used to have, or the process by which this happens
loss of
The court awarded Ms Dixon £7,000 for damages and loss of earnings.
a disease which causes fever and a loss of appetite
This did not explain his apparent loss of interest in his wife.
her loss of confidence in herself
a certain feeling of loss of control
a temporary loss of memory
The animal was weak through loss of blood.
The company is closing down two of its factories, leading to 430 job losses.
Weight loss should be gradual.
a type of hearing loss that affects language development

2. [uncountable and countable] if a business makes a loss, it spends more than it earns:
The company made a loss of $250,000 last year.
The magazine’s losses totaled almost $5 million.
profit and loss
run/operate etc at a loss (=to earn less money from something you sell than it costs you to produce it)
Two of the mines are running at a loss.
a loss-making rural railway

3. [uncountable and countable] the death of someone
loss of
She must be feeling very lonely after the loss of her husband.
I’m sorry to hear of your family’s sad loss (=the death of someone you love).
US forces withdrew after suffering heavy losses (=many deaths).
The war has led to a tragic loss of life.

4. be at a loss to be confused and uncertain about what to do or say:
When her son finally left home, Emily felt completely at a loss.
be at a loss to do something
Detectives are so far at a loss to explain the reason for his death.
He seemed, for once, at a loss for words (=unable to think what to say).

5. [uncountable] a feeling of being sad or lonely because someone or something is not there any more:
the deep sense of loss I felt after my divorce

6. [singular] a disadvantage caused by someone or something leaving or being removed
loss to
We see your going as a great loss to the company.

7. that’s/it’s sb’s loss spoken said when you think someone is being stupid for not taking a good opportunity:
Well, if he doesn’t want to come, it’s his loss.
⇒ cut your losses at cut¹(29), ⇒ a dead loss at dead¹(10)

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

loss
noun
I. losing of sb/sth
ADJ. appreciable, dramatic, great, major, serious, significant, substantial, tremendous The ship sank with great loss of life. She suffered a significant loss of hearing after the operation.
slight | total | temporary | permanent | sad His death is a sad loss to all who knew him.
blood, hair, hearing, weight Weight loss can be a sign of a serious illness.
job The company is expected to announce 200 job losses.
VERB + LOSS mourn China mourned the loss of a great leader.
PREP. ~ of loss of appetite loss of confidence
PHRASES no great loss She wouldn't be able to attend the lecture, which was no great loss.
a sense of loss She was filled with an overwhelming sense of loss.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

loss
II. amount of money lost
ADJ. heavy, huge, massive | slight, small | net | pre-tax | overall, total | economic, financial | trading
VERB + LOSS incur, make, suffer, sustain There's no way you can make a loss on this deal. The business sustained losses of £20 million.
cut, minimize He decided to cut his losses and sell the shares before they sank further.
recoup, recover It took the firm five years to recoup its losses.
offset We can offset the loss against next year's budget.
underwrite No bank would be willing to underwrite such a loss.
PREP. at a ~ The bookshop was operating at a loss.
~ on We made a net loss on the transaction.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

loss
III. sb/sth lost/killed
ADJ. big, great, heavy, severe The enemy suffered heavy losses.
VERB + LOSS suffer, sustain, take | inflict Fighter planes inflicted heavy losses on the enemy.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

loss
lɔs
See: at a loss , throw for a loss

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲