Refine this word faster

Stronger alternatives Opposite tone Use in context Cross-language nuance

Loss

//lɒs// noun, verb, slang

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    The result of no longer possessing an object, a function, or a characteristic due to external causes or misplacement. countable

    "loss of limb; weight loss; loss of cognitive functions; loss of appetite."

  2. 2
    the act of losing someone or something wordnet
  3. 3
    The destruction or ruin of an object. uncountable
  4. 4
    the disadvantage that results from losing something wordnet
  5. 5
    Something that has been destroyed or ruined. countable

    "It was a terrible crash; both cars were total losses."

Show 11 more definitions
  1. 6
    the experience of losing a loved one wordnet
  2. 7
    Defeat; an instance of being defeated. countable

    "The match ended in their first loss of the season."

  3. 8
    euphemistic expressions for death wordnet
  4. 9
    The death of a person or animal. countable

    "We mourn his loss."

  5. 10
    military personnel lost by death or capture wordnet
  6. 11
    The condition of grief caused by losing someone or something, especially someone who has died. uncountable

    "Her daughter's sense of loss eventually led to depression."

  7. 12
    the amount by which the cost of a business exceeds its revenue wordnet
  8. 13
    The sum an entity loses on balance. countable

    "The sum of expenditures and taxes minus total income is a loss, when this difference is positive."

  9. 14
    something that is lost wordnet
  10. 15
    Electricity of kinetic power expended without doing useful work. countable, uncountable

    "The inefficiency of many old-fashioned power plants exceeds 60% loss before the subsequent losses during transport over the grid."

  11. 16
    gradual decline in amount or activity wordnet
Verb
  1. 1
    Alternative spelling of lost. alt-of, alternative, colloquial

Etymology

Etymology 1

From Middle English los, from Old English los (“damage, destruction, loss”), from Proto-West Germanic *los, from Proto-Germanic *lusą (“dissolution, break-up, loss”), from Proto-Indo-European *lews- (“to cut, sunder, separate, loose, lose”). Cognate with Icelandic los (“dissolution, looseness, break-up”), Old English lor, forlor (“loss, ruin”), Middle High German verlor (“loss, ruin”). More at lose.

Etymology 2

Pronunciation spelling of lost, representing African-American Vernacular English.

See also for "loss"

Synonyms Antonyms Rhymes Sentences Translate Word Type Pronunciation Word Forms

Next best steps

Find stronger synonymsSee usage examplesCheck pronunciation

Mini challenge

Unscramble this word: loss