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loss Definition

loss (lôs, läs)

noun

  1. a losing or being lost
  2. an instance of this
  3. the damage, trouble, disadvantage, deprivation, etc. caused by losing something
  4. the person, thing, or amount lost
  5. any reduction, lessening, etc. a loss of strength, power, etc.
  6. any reduction of heat energy, electrical energy, etc. in a system, esp. the reduction of power, voltage, or current in a circuit due to the resistance of the components
  7. Insurance
    1. death, injury, damage, etc. that is the basis for a valid claim for indemnity under the terms of an insurance policy
    2. the amount paid by the insurer on this basis
  8. Mil.
    1. the losing of military personnel in combat by death, injury, or capture
    2. those lost in this way
    3. ships, aircraft, etc. lost in battle

Etymology: ME los < pp. of losen, lesen, to lose

loss Idioms

at a loss

  1. in an uncertain or perplexed state; puzzled
  2. so as to lose money to operate a business at a loss
  3. not able to; uncertain how to: followed by an infinitive he was at a loss to explain the missing funds

loss Synonyms

loss

n.

  1. The act or fact of losing

    ruin, destruction, perdition, mishap, misfortune, forfeiture, giving up, bereavement, ill fortune, misadventure, ill luck, accident, calamity, trouble, disaster, death, sacrifice, catastrophe, cataclysm, trial, failure, misplacing, mislaying.

  2. Damage suffered by loss, sense 1

    hurt, injury, wound; see damage 1, 2.

  3. The result of unprofitable activity

    privation, want, bereavement, deprivation, need, destitution, being without, lack, waste, deterioration, impairment, degeneration, retrogression, retardation, decline, disadvantage, wreck, wreckage, extermination, eradication, extinction, undoing, dissolution, annihilation, extirpation, perdition, bane, end, undoing, disorganization, breaking up, immolation, suppression, relapse; see also bankruptcy.

    Antonyms advantage*, advancement*, supply.

at a loss

confused, puzzled, unsure, at sea; see undecided, doubtful 2.

loss Law Definition

n

  1. The death of an insured person or damage to insured property.
  2. The amount that the value of personal or real property exceeds the proceeds from its sale.
  3. Generally, the complete or partial diminishment of the value of an asset or of a human life.

loss Telecom Definition

  1. The energy or power expended without having accomplished any useful work. In electrical systems, such loss is described in watts (W). See also watt.
  2. The attenuation of signal level in a communications medium. Such loss generally is expressed in decibels (dB). See also attenuation, dB, and signal.
  3. The disappearance of packets or other message units in network transit. Packet loss can be caused by errors introduced into address fields, which affects the ability of the various network switches, routers, and other devices to properly forward the message units. Loss also can be caused if device buffers overfill and message units are erased. See also address, buffer, switch, and router.

loss Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • suffer: Some people, who have suffered a loss like my character, are afraid of certain kinds of people.
  • incur: The amount of loss will vary with the charging method and fast or trickle charging will often incur extra loss.
  • mourn: We mourn the loss not only of a good soldier, but of a good comrade as well.
  • prevent: The top surface is glazed to allow light in, but prevent heat loss.
  • minimize: Customers must take precautions to minimize any loss that might occur.

Converse of subject

devastate: The small village was devastated by the loss of the Penlee lifeboat, the Solomon Brown, just before Christmas 1981.

Adjective modifier

  • consequential: No liability can be accepted for any direct or consequential loss arising from the use of, or reliance upon, this information.
  • sad: Sad loss to the world in the early eighties.
  • net: The net loss for the year was £ 4.2 million compared to £ 3.7 million in 1998.
  • tragic: The death of Donald Archie MacDonald is a tragic loss to Gaelic scholarship and a blow keenly felt by the Society.

Modifies a noun

adjuster: A role has arisen with this leading loss adjuster for an Commercial Property Claims Handler.

Noun used with modifier

  • weight: To achieve weight loss, we have to use more energy than we take in.
  • hearing: Hearing loss in the built environment: The experience of the elderly.
  • hair: Hair Loss Articles Is Hair Loss Shampoo Any Good For Me?
  • sight: A consumer panel of visitors with sight loss worked with Museum staff in developing these services.
  • heat: The trapped air pockets of warm air provide insulation to reduce heat loss from your pet's body.
  • bone: An investigation of historical and archeological evidence for age-related bone loss and osteoporosis.

Preposition: of

  • earning: They could involve: - Loss of earnings Medical expenses Cost of care due to incapacity Travel expenses How much is my claim worth?
  • appetite: Strokes can also cause depression and loss of appetite may be due to depression.
  • profit: The School will not be liable for any loss suffered by you which is indirect, special or consequential or comprises loss of profits.