expense
[ ik-spens ]
/ ɪkˈspɛns /
noun
cost or charge: the expense of a good meal.
a cause or occasion of spending: A car can be a great expense.
the act of expending; expenditure.
expenses,
- charges incurred during a business assignment or trip.
- money paid as reimbursement for such charges: to receive a salary and expenses.
verb (used with object), ex·pensed, ex·pens·ing.
to charge or write off as an expense.
verb (used without object), ex·pensed, ex·pens·ing.
to be expensed.
Idioms for expense
at the expense of,
at the sacrifice of; to the detriment of: quantity at the expense of quality.
Origin of expense
1350–1400; Middle English < Late Latin
expēnsa, noun use of feminine of
expēnsus, past participle of
expendere to
expend
SYNONYMS FOR expense
OTHER WORDS FROM expense
ex·pense·less, adjective pre·ex·pense, nounWords nearby expense
British Dictionary definitions for at the expense of
expense
/ (ɪkˈspɛns) /
noun
a particular payment of money; expenditure
money needed for individual purchases; cost; charge
(plural)
incidental money spent in the performance of a job, commission, etc, usually reimbursed by an employer or allowable against tax
something requiring money for its purchase or upkeep
the car was more of an expense than he had expected
at the expense of
to the detriment of
he succeeded at the expense of his health
verb
(tr) US and Canadian
to treat as an expense for book-keeping or tax purposes
Word Origin for expense
C14: from Late Latin
expēnsa, from Latin
expēnsus weighed out; see
expend
Idioms and Phrases with at the expense of (1 of 2)
at the expense of
Also, at one's expense.
Paid for by someone, as in The hotel bill for the sales force is at the expense of the company. [Mid-1600s]
To the detriment or injury of a person or thing, as in We can't speed up production at the expense of quality, or The laughter was all at Tom's expense. [Late 1600s]
Idioms and Phrases with at the expense of (2 of 2)
expense
see at the expense of; go to the trouble (expense); money (expense) is no object.