loss

loss

W1S2 [lɔs US lo:s] n

[: Old English; Origin: los 'destruction']

1.) [U and C]

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.) [U and C]

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.) [U and C]

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 sth

▪ 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.) [U]

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)

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COLLOCATES for sense 1

loss of earnings/income

loss of appetite

loss of interest

loss of confidence

loss of control

loss of faith

loss of memory/memory loss

blood loss/loss of blood

job losses

weight loss

hearing loss

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