To be at a loss

To be at a loss
Loss Loss (l[o^]s; 115), n. [AS. los loss, losing, fr. le['o]san to lose. [root]127. See {Lose}, v. t.] 1. The act of losing; failure; destruction; privation; as, the loss of property; loss of money by gaming; loss of health or reputation. [1913 Webster]

Assured loss before the match be played. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

2. The state of losing or having lost; the privation, defect, misfortune, harm, etc., which ensues from losing. [1913 Webster]

Though thou repent, yet I have still the loss. --Shak [1913 Webster]

3. That which is lost or from which one has parted; waste; -- opposed to {gain} or {increase}; as, the loss of liquor by leakage was considerable. [1913 Webster]

4. The state of being lost or destroyed; especially, the wreck or foundering of a ship or other vessel. [1913 Webster]

5. Failure to gain or win; as, loss of a race or battle. [1913 Webster]

6. Failure to use advantageously; as, loss of time. [1913 Webster]

7. (Mil.) Killed, wounded, and captured persons, or captured property. [1913 Webster]

8. (Insurance) Destruction or diminution of value, if brought about in a manner provided for in the insurance contract (as destruction by fire or wreck, damage by water or smoke), or the death or injury of an insured person; also, the sum paid or payable therefor; as, the losses of the company this year amount to a million of dollars. [1913 Webster]

{To bear a loss}, to make a loss good; also, to sustain a loss without sinking under it.

{To be at a loss}, to be in a state of uncertainty.

Syn: Privation; detriment; injury; damage. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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Look at other dictionaries:

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  • 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… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

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  • Loss — (l[o^]s; 115), n. [AS. los loss, losing, fr. le[ o]san to lose. [root]127. See {Lose}, v. t.] 1. The act of losing; failure; destruction; privation; as, the loss of property; loss of money by gaming; loss of health or reputation. [1913 Webster]… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • loss-making — ˈloss ˌmaking adjective FINANCE a loss making product or business activity is one that does not make a profit: • Loss making, state owned businesses will be sold off. loss maker noun [countable] : • The plant has long been a loss maker for Volvo …   Financial and business terms

  • loss-maker — loss making ˈloss ˌmaking adjective FINANCE a loss making product or business activity is one that does not make a profit: • Loss making, state owned businesses will be sold off. loss maker noun [countable] : • The plant has long been a loss… …   Financial and business terms

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