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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

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Alternate definitions:

business loss definition - business

idioms loss idiom

law loss definition - legal

telecom loss definition - telecom

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.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

loss Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • suffer: Some people, who have suffered a loss like my character, are afraid of certain kinds of people.

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.

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.

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?
loss usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

loss quotes

But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.

-Bible (NewTestament)

For I say, this is death and the sole death, When a man's loss comes to him from his gain, Darkness from light, from knowledge ignorance, And lack of love from love made manifest.

-Browning, Robert

Contrary to reports that I took the loss badly,I slept like a babyöevery two hours I woke up and cried. 278

-Dole, Bob (RobertJoseph)

loss quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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MLA Style

"loss." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 4 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/loss>

APA Style

loss. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 4th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/loss

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