noun
something that you lose, give away, damage etc in order to achieve something
the terrible cost of the war in death and suffering
这场战争造成的死亡与苦难的惨重代价
the environmental cost of nuclear power
核动力对环境的破坏
She saved him from the fire but at the cost of her own life (= she died).
她从火中把他救了出来，却牺牲了自己的生命。
He worked non-stop for three months, at considerable cost to his health.
他连续不断地工作了三个月，大大损害了自己的身体健康。
verb
to cause the loss of sth 使丧失；使损失
~ sb sth
That one mistake almost cost him his life.
那一个差错几乎使他丧命。
A late penalty cost United the game (= meant that they did not win the game).
临近终场点球得分使得联队输掉那场比赛。
~ sth
The closure of the factory is likely to cost 1 000 jobs.
那家工厂一关闭，很可能 1 000 个工作岗位就没有了。