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cheap

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The definition of cheap is costing very little, of little value or someone who is unwilling to spend money.

(adjective)

An example of cheap is a car being sold for under $1,000.
An example of cheap is a garment made of trashy fabric.
An example of cheap is a person who has money, but will not spend it on anything.

Cheap means at a low cost.

(adverb)

An example of cheap is a store owner who is willing to sell items for a small amount of money.

See cheap in Webster's New World College Dictionary

adjective

low in price or cost; not expensive
charging low prices: a chain of cheap stores
spending or able to spend little: a cheaper clientele
worth more than the price
costing little labor or trouble; easily gotten: a cheap victory
of little value or poor quality; virtually worthless
deserving of scorn; contemptible: made cheap by their own behavior
Informal stingy; niggardly
Econ. lowered in exchange value or buying power; also, available at low interest rates: said of money

Origin: < good cheap, favorable bargain < ME god chep (used as transl. of OFr à bon marché) < OE ceap, a purchase, bargain, akin to Ger kaufen, to buy; ult. < L caupo, petty tradesman

adverb

at a low cost; cheaply

noun

a market: now only in place names: Cheapside
Obsolete a bargain

Origin: OE ceap, market; akin to Dan kjob (ON kaup) as in Kjöbnhavn (Copenhagen)

Related Forms:

cheaply adverb
cheapness noun

See cheap in American Heritage Dictionary 4

adjective cheap·er, cheap·est

a. Relatively low in cost; inexpensive or comparatively inexpensive.
b. Charging low prices: a cheap restaurant.
a. Obtainable at a low rate of interest. Used especially of money.
b. Devalued, as in buying power: cheap dollars.
Achieved with little effort: a cheap victory; cheap laughs.
Of or considered of small value: in wartime, when life was cheap.
Of poor quality; inferior: a cheap toy.
Worthy of no respect; vulgar or contemptible: a cheap gangster.
Stingy; miserly.