loss

noun

1. 1

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

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

   People are less willing to take a risk to make a gain than to avoid a loss.

   In other areas, glacier loss creates serious risk of a dry period across the Third Pole, Wang said.

2. 2

   The destruction or ruin of an object.

3. 3

   Something that has been destroyed or ruined.

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

4. 4

   Defeat; an instance of being defeated.

   The match ended in their first loss of the season.

5. 5

   The death of a person or animal.

   We mourn his loss.

   The battle was won, but losses were great.

6. 6

   The condition of grief caused by losing someone or something, especially someone who has died.

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

7. 7

   The sum an entity loses on balance.

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

8. 8

   Electricity of kinetic power expended without doing useful work.

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

verb

1. 1

   Variant of lostAlternative spelling of lost.

Forms

plural

losses