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A1 noun #1,582 最常用 11分钟阅读

loss

前1,582

At the A1 level, 'loss' is a simple word used to describe not having something anymore. You might use it when you lose your keys or your money. It is a noun, which means it is a thing. For example, 'The loss of my pen made me sad.' At this level, you should focus on the difference between 'lose' (the action) and 'loss' (the result). You might also hear it in sports, like 'Our team had a loss yesterday.' It is a very common word that helps you talk about your daily life and the things that happen to you. You will mostly see it used with simple adjectives like 'big' or 'small'.

At the A2 level, you start to see 'loss' used in more specific ways, such as 'weight loss' or 'job loss'. You are learning that 'loss' can describe changes in your body or your life situation. You might also encounter the phrase 'I am sorry for your loss' when someone's pet or relative dies. This is an important social phrase. You should also be aware of the business meaning, where a 'loss' means a company spent more money than it made. At this level, you can begin to use 'loss' in simple sentences to describe past events and personal experiences more clearly.

At the B1 level, you should be comfortable using 'loss' in various contexts, including abstract ones like 'loss of confidence' or 'loss of interest'. You will start to see more complex collocations like 'suffer a loss' or 'report a loss'. You should also understand the idiom 'at a loss', as in 'I was at a loss for words'. This level requires you to distinguish between countable and uncountable uses of the word. For example, 'The company suffered a heavy loss' (countable) versus 'The loss of biodiversity is a problem' (uncountable). You are moving beyond simple physical objects to more complex ideas.

At the B2 level, 'loss' appears in more formal and academic contexts. You will encounter it in news reports about 'loss of life' or 'financial losses'. You should be able to use it to describe trends and results in a professional manner. You will also learn more idioms like 'cut your losses' or 'a dead loss'. At this level, you should understand the nuance of 'loss' compared to words like 'deficit' or 'forfeit'. You can use 'loss' to write detailed reports or participate in debates about social and economic issues, using it to quantify and qualify the impact of different events.

At the C1 level, you use 'loss' with high precision. You understand its role in nominalization, allowing you to create more sophisticated and concise sentences. You might use it in legal or scientific contexts, such as 'loss of consortium' or 'signal loss'. You are aware of the subtle emotional connotations the word carries in literature and high-level discourse. You can use 'loss' to discuss complex philosophical ideas about time, memory, and human experience. Your vocabulary includes rare collocations and you can use the word flexibly in both highly formal and very informal settings without error.

At the C2 level, your mastery of 'loss' is complete. You can use it to convey subtle shades of meaning and irony. You are familiar with its etymology and how its usage has evolved over time. You can appreciate and use 'loss' in poetic and metaphorical ways, such as 'the loss of innocence' in a literary critique. You can navigate the most technical discussions in finance, law, or science where 'loss' has a specific, defined meaning. You use the word with the natural ease of a highly educated native speaker, perfectly matching the register and tone of any given situation.

开始练习例句笔记与提示

loss 30秒了解

Loss is a noun meaning you no longer have something you previously possessed, whether it is a physical object, money, or a relationship.
In business, a loss occurs when expenses are higher than income, leading to a decrease in the company's total financial value over time.
The word is also used to describe the death of a person, often expressed with sympathy in the phrase 'I am sorry for your loss'.
It can describe a failure to win a contest or a reduction in something like health, hearing, or environmental biodiversity in nature.

The word loss is a versatile noun that primarily describes the state of no longer having something or the process of losing it. At its most basic level, it refers to the disappearance of an object, like a set of keys or a wallet. However, its meaning deepens significantly depending on the context. In a personal sense, it often refers to the emotional pain felt when someone dies or a relationship ends. In a business context, it is the opposite of profit, occurring when expenses exceed revenue. Understanding 'loss' requires recognizing whether it is a concrete event (losing a game) or an abstract state (a loss of confidence).

Physical Loss: The actual misplacement or destruction of a tangible item. For example, the loss of a library book or the loss of a home in a fire.
Financial Loss: A decrease in value or a situation where money is spent without a return. This is common in stock market discussions and corporate accounting.
Emotional Loss: The psychological impact of bereavement or the end of a significant life phase. It encompasses grief, sadness, and the feeling of a void.

The company reported a significant loss in the third quarter due to rising supply costs.

Beyond these, 'loss' can describe a failure to win, such as a sports team suffering a loss on the field. It can also describe a reduction in quality or quantity, like the loss of hearing or the loss of biodiversity in an ecosystem. The word is deeply tied to the concept of value; we only feel 'loss' for things that we once possessed and deemed important. In many ways, the study of loss is the study of change—specifically, change that results in having less than before.

She struggled to cope with the loss of her grandmother, who had been her primary mentor.

In scientific terms, 'loss' might refer to the dissipation of energy, such as heat loss in an engine. In legal terms, it refers to the damage or injury suffered by a person for which they might seek compensation. The breadth of this word makes it one of the most essential nouns in the English language, appearing in almost every domain of human experience from the most mundane to the most profound.

The loss of habitat is the primary threat to the survival of many endangered species.

Synonym: Deficit: Used specifically in finance to describe when spending is higher than income.
Synonym: Bereavement: The specific type of loss involving the death of a loved one.

After the storm, the total loss of property was estimated at over five million dollars.

The athlete was at a loss to explain his poor performance during the championship.

Using 'loss' correctly involves understanding its grammatical role as a noun and its various collocations. It is most frequently used with adjectives that describe the scale or nature of the deprivation. Common adjectives include 'heavy', 'significant', 'tragic', 'minor', and 'total'. When you use 'loss', you are often connecting a subject to an object that has been removed or reduced. It is also a key component in several idiomatic expressions that are essential for natural-sounding English.

With Verbs: Common verbs that precede 'loss' include 'suffer', 'experience', 'report', 'mourn', and 'calculate'. You 'suffer a loss' in a game or business, but you 'mourn a loss' when someone dies.

Investors were warned they might suffer a total loss of their capital if the startup failed.

One of the most important distinctions to make is between 'loss' (the noun) and 'lose' (the verb). This is a frequent error even for native speakers. 'Lose' is the action (I lose my keys), while 'loss' is the result or the state (The loss of my keys was annoying). Additionally, 'loss' is often used in the phrase 'at a loss', which means to be confused or uncertain about what to do or say. For example, 'I was at a loss for words' means I didn't know what to say.

The loss of pressure in the cabin forced the pilot to make an emergency landing.

In professional writing, 'loss' is used to maintain an objective tone. Instead of saying 'The company did badly and lost money', a professional report would say 'The company reported a net loss'. This nominalization (turning a verb into a noun) is a hallmark of academic and business English. It allows for more complex sentence structures and a more formal register. When describing scientific phenomena, 'loss' is used to quantify the reduction of a specific variable, such as 'heat loss' or 'signal loss'.

The doctor explained that his hearing loss was a natural part of the aging process.

Common Phrasal Usage: 'Loss of life' is a formal way to refer to deaths, often used in news reports about accidents or disasters.
Idiom: Cut your losses: To stop doing something that is failing so that you do not waste any more money or time.

It was time to cut our losses and sell the failing restaurant.

The team’s fourth consecutive loss led to the dismissal of the head coach.

The word 'loss' is ubiquitous, appearing in diverse settings from the evening news to the doctor's office. In the financial world, 'loss' is a daily keyword. You will hear it on news channels like Bloomberg or CNBC when they discuss 'quarterly losses', 'trading losses', or 'capital loss'. It is the primary metric for measuring the health of an economy or a specific company. If a stock drops in value, investors talk about their 'unrealized loss'.

In Sports: Commentators frequently use 'loss' to describe a team's defeat. A 'tough loss' implies a game that was close or emotionally draining.

The local team suffered a devastating loss in the final seconds of the game.

In healthcare, 'loss' is used to describe physiological changes. Doctors might discuss 'memory loss', 'weight loss', or 'loss of appetite'. In these contexts, the word is often neutral and descriptive, helping to diagnose conditions. However, in a hospital's palliative care or bereavement department, the word takes on a much heavier, more emotional tone. You might hear phrases like 'coping with loss' or 'grieving a loss'.

Sudden loss of vision requires immediate medical attention.

In the legal and insurance industries, 'loss' is a technical term. Insurance adjusters calculate 'total loss' when a car is so damaged it isn't worth repairing. Lawyers argue over 'loss of earnings' or 'loss of consortium' in personal injury cases. Here, the word is tied to monetary compensation and quantifiable damage. Even in technology, we hear about 'packet loss' in internet connections or 'data loss' when a hard drive fails.

The insurance company declared the vehicle a total loss after the flood.

In Environmental Science: Experts warn about the 'loss of biodiversity' and 'ice loss' in the Arctic due to climate change.
In Everyday Conversation: People talk about 'weight loss' journeys or being 'at a loss' when they can't find their way in a new city.

The loss of power during the storm left the entire neighborhood in the dark.

He felt a deep sense of loss when he moved away from his childhood home.

The most frequent mistake involving 'loss' is confusing it with its related forms: 'lose' and 'loose'. Because they look and sound similar, even advanced learners and native speakers often swap them. 'Loss' is a noun (the result), 'lose' is a verb (the action), and 'loose' is an adjective (the opposite of tight). For example, you 'lose' (verb) your 'loose' (adjective) change, which results in a 'loss' (noun) of money.

Loss vs. Lose: Incorrect: I don't want to loss my job. Correct: I don't want to lose my job. (Use the verb for the action).
Loss vs. Loose: Incorrect: The loss tooth fell out. Correct: The loose tooth fell out. (Use the adjective for the state of the tooth).

Many people mistakenly write 'I am sorry for your lose' instead of 'loss'.

Another common error is using the wrong preposition. We typically say 'loss of' something (loss of hair, loss of money) or 'loss to' someone (a loss to the community). Using 'loss from' is sometimes acceptable in financial contexts (loss from investments), but 'loss of' is the safer, more common choice. Additionally, learners often forget that 'loss' can be plural. While 'loss' as an abstract concept is uncountable, specific instances of losing are countable: 'The team had ten losses this year.'

The phrase 'at a loss' is often misused as 'at a lost'. Always use the noun form in this idiom.

Confusing 'loss' with 'defeat' is a subtle error. While every defeat is a loss, not every loss is a defeat. A 'defeat' specifically implies being beaten by an opponent in a contest. A 'loss' can be much broader, including losing your wallet or losing your way. Using 'defeat' for a lost object would be incorrect. Finally, be careful with the phrase 'loss of life'. It is a set phrase; saying 'loss of lives' is grammatically possible but much less common in formal reporting.

He was at a loss for words when he saw the surprise party.

Preposition Error: Avoid saying 'the loss for my keys'. Use 'the loss of my keys'.
Article Usage: In the idiom 'at a loss', you must include the article 'a'. You cannot say 'I am at loss'.

The loss of his job was a major blow to his self-esteem.

Despite the loss, the team played with great spirit and determination.

To truly master 'loss', it is helpful to compare it with similar words that occupy the same semantic space. Words like 'deficit', 'deprivation', 'bereavement', and 'forfeit' all describe having less of something, but they are used in very specific ways. 'Deficit' is almost exclusively financial or mathematical. 'Deprivation' suggests a lack of basic necessities, like sleep or food. 'Bereavement' is the specific emotional state following a death.

Loss vs. Deficit: A 'loss' is a general term for losing something. A 'deficit' is specifically when the amount you have is less than the amount you need or the amount you spent.
Loss vs. Forfeit: A 'loss' can be accidental. A 'forfeit' is usually a loss that happens as a penalty for breaking a rule or failing to meet an obligation.

The team had to forfeit the game, resulting in a technical loss on their record.

'Damage' and 'destruction' are also related. 'Damage' refers to harm that reduces value or usefulness, while 'loss' refers to the actual disappearance or total removal of that value. If your car is scratched, it has 'damage'. If your car is stolen, it is a 'loss'. 'Reduction' is a more neutral term often used in technical contexts, like 'a reduction in speed', whereas 'a loss of speed' might imply something went wrong with the engine.

The deprivation of rights is a much more serious concept than a simple loss of privileges.

In the context of competition, 'defeat' is the most common synonym. However, 'defeat' is more active—it implies an opponent. You can suffer a 'loss' because you played poorly, even if no one 'defeated' you (for example, in a solo time trial). 'Misfortune' is a broader term for bad luck that might lead to a loss. Understanding these distinctions helps you choose the word that best fits the emotional and technical requirements of your sentence.

The bereavement counselor helped the family navigate their sense of loss.

Loss vs. Waste: 'Waste' implies that something was used poorly or thrown away unnecessarily. 'Loss' is simply the fact that it is gone.
Loss vs. Misplacement: 'Misplacement' is temporary; you don't know where it is. 'Loss' is often permanent; it is truly gone.

The deficit in the budget forced the city to cut funding for public parks.

A loss of data can be prevented by regularly backing up your computer files.

How Formal Is It?

正式

非正式

难度评级

需要掌握的语法

按水平分级的例句

The loss of my favorite toy was very sad.

La perte de mon jouet préféré était très triste.

'Loss' is the subject of the sentence.

He felt a small loss when he dropped his ice cream.

Il a ressenti une petite perte quand il a fait tomber sa glace.

'Small' is an adjective describing 'loss'.

The team had one loss and three wins.

L'équipe a eu une défaite et trois victoires.

Here, 'loss' is countable.

Is this your loss?

Est-ce votre perte ?

Used in a question about ownership.

The loss of money is a problem.

La perte d'argent est un problème.

'Loss of' is a common pattern.

I am sorry for your loss.

Je suis désolé pour votre perte.

A set phrase for sympathy.

The loss of the game was hard.

La perte du match a été difficile.

Refers to a defeat in sports.

A big loss of water happened in the garden.

Une grande perte d'eau s'est produite dans le jardin.

Describes a physical reduction.

She started a weight loss program.

Elle a commencé un programme de perte de poids.

'Weight loss' is a compound noun.

The company reported a loss this year.

L'entreprise a déclaré une perte cette année.

Refers to financial deficit.

The loss of his job was a surprise.

La perte de son emploi a été une surprise.

Describes a life event.

He suffered a memory loss after the accident.

Il a subi une perte de mémoire après l'accident.

'Memory loss' is a common medical term.

The loss of electricity lasted for two hours.

La coupure d'électricité a duré deux heures.

Refers to a service interruption.

They are mourning the loss of their dog.

Ils pleurent la perte de leur chien.

'Mourning the loss' is a common phrase.

The loss of the keys caused a lot of trouble.

La perte des clés a causé beaucoup d'ennuis.

Focuses on the consequence of the loss.

There was a loss of signal during the call.

Il y a eu une perte de signal pendant l'appel.

Technical use of the word.

I was at a loss for words when she arrived.

J'étais à court de mots quand elle est arrivée.

Idiom: 'at a loss'.

The loss of habitat is bad for birds.

La perte d'habitat est mauvaise pour les oiseaux.

Abstract environmental concept.

He felt a deep sense of loss after moving.

Il a ressenti un profond sentiment de perte après avoir déménagé.

'Sense of loss' is a common collocation.

The business suffered a heavy loss last quarter.

L'entreprise a subi une lourde perte le trimestre dernier.

'Heavy' is a strong adjective for 'loss'.

There is a loss of interest in the new project.

Il y a une perte d'intérêt pour le nouveau projet.

Describes a psychological state.

The loss of the document was a major setback.

La perte du document a été un revers majeur.

Describes a professional obstacle.

The doctor discussed the loss of hearing with him.

Le médecin a discuté de la perte d'audition avec lui.

Medical context.

The team's loss was due to poor defense.

La défaite de l'équipe était due à une mauvaise défense.

Explains the cause of a loss.

The company decided to cut its losses and close the branch.

L'entreprise a décidé de limiter les dégâts et de fermer la succursale.

Idiom: 'cut one's losses'.

The loss of life in the earthquake was tragic.

Les pertes en vies humaines lors du tremblement de terre ont été tragiques.

Formal phrase: 'loss of life'.

There was a significant loss of data during the server crash.

Il y a eu une perte de données significative lors du plantage du serveur.

Technical/Professional context.

The loss of his reputation was harder than the loss of his money.

La perte de sa réputation a été plus dure que la perte de son argent.

Comparing two types of loss.

Investors are worried about the potential loss of capital.

Les investisseurs s'inquiètent de la perte potentielle de capital.

Financial terminology.

The loss of the treaty led to increased tensions.

La perte du traité a entraîné une augmentation des tensions.

Political context.

She struggled with the loss of her independence.

Elle a lutté contre la perte de son indépendance.

Abstract personal loss.

The loss of pressure caused the machine to stop.

La perte de pression a provoqué l'arrêt de la machine.

Scientific/Engineering context.

The loss of biodiversity is an existential threat to humanity.

La perte de biodiversité est une menace existentielle pour l'humanité.

High-level academic register.

He was at a total loss as to how to proceed with the litigation.

Il ne savait absolument pas comment procéder au litige.

Idiom 'at a loss' with intensifier 'total'.

The poem explores the theme of the loss of innocence.

Le poème explore le thème de la perte de l'innocence.

Literary analysis context.

The net loss was mitigated by the sale of subsidiary assets.

La perte nette a été atténuée par la vente d'actifs de filiales.

Advanced business terminology.

The loss of the primary witness crippled the prosecution's case.

La perte du témoin principal a paralysé l'accusation.

Legal context.

Cognitive loss in the elderly is a growing public health concern.

La perte cognitive chez les personnes âgées est une préoccupation croissante de santé publique.

Formal medical/sociological register.

The loss of cultural heritage during the war was immeasurable.

La perte du patrimoine culturel pendant la guerre était incommensurable.

Historical/Cultural context.

There is a direct correlation between habitat loss and species extinction.

Il existe une corrélation directe entre la perte d'habitat et l'extinction des espèces.

Scientific argumentation.

The profound loss of social cohesion has led to political fragmentation.

La perte profonde de cohésion sociale a conduit à une fragmentation politique.

Socio-political analysis.

The protagonist's journey is marked by a series of tragic losses.

Le voyage du protagoniste est marqué par une série de pertes tragiques.

Literary criticism.

The loss of the signal's integrity was due to atmospheric interference.

La perte d'intégrité du signal était due à des interférences atmosphériques.

Highly technical engineering.

The court awarded damages for the loss of consortium.

Le tribunal a accordé des dommages-intérêts pour la perte de consortium.

Specific legal term.

The loss of the manuscript is a catastrophic blow to historical scholarship.

La perte du manuscrit est un coup catastrophique pour l'érudition historique.

Academic emphasis.

The company’s loss of market share was a result of strategic inertia.

La perte de parts de marché de l'entreprise était le résultat d'une inertie stratégique.

Strategic business analysis.

The loss of the sublime in modern art is a frequent topic of debate.

La perte du sublime dans l'art moderne est un sujet de débat fréquent.

Aesthetic philosophy.

The sheer scale of the loss defied any attempt at quantification.

L'ampleur même de la perte défiait toute tentative de quantification.

Rhetorical emphasis.

近义词

deficit reduction depletion failure disappearance

反义词

profit gain benefit

常见搭配

heavy loss

financial loss

job loss

weight loss

sense of loss

total loss

significant loss

memory loss

loss of life

net loss

常用短语

at a loss

cut your losses

loss of appetite

loss of control

loss of interest

loss of sleep

loss of time

loss of blood

loss of memory

loss of faith

容易混淆的词

loss vs lose

loss vs loose

loss vs lost

习语与表达

容易混淆

loss vs lose

Lose is a verb (action); loss is a noun (thing).

loss vs loose

Loose is an adjective meaning not tight.

loss vs lost

Lost is the past tense of lose or an adjective.

句型

如何使用

collocations

Pairs well with 'heavy', 'sudden', 'tragic'.

countability

Use 'losses' for multiple events, 'loss' for the general state.

prepositions

Usually 'of', sometimes 'to' or 'from'.

常见错误

Writing 'I am sorry for your lose'.
Saying 'I am at loss' instead of 'at a loss'.
Confusing 'loss' with 'loose'.
Using 'loss' as a verb.
Using the wrong preposition (e.g., 'loss for money').

小贴士

Noun vs Verb

Always check if you need an action (lose) or a thing (loss).

Sympathy

Use 'Sorry for your loss' to be kind to someone who is grieving.

Financials

In business, 'loss' is the opposite of 'profit'.

At a loss

Use 'at a loss for words' when you are very surprised.

Double S

Remember that 'loss' ends with two 's's.

Heavy loss

Use 'heavy' to describe a very big loss.

Nominalization

Using 'loss' makes your writing sound more professional.

Habitat loss

This is a key phrase in environmental science.

Record

A team's record is often written as Wins-Losses.

Visual

Associate 'loss' with a red color in your mind.

记住它

词源

Old English

文化背景

Losing face is a significant social concern in many cultures.

A 'loss leader' is a product sold at a loss to attract customers.

Use 'I am sorry for your loss' for deaths.

在生活中练习

真实语境

对话开场白

"Have you ever suffered a significant loss in a game?"

"What is the best way to cope with a personal loss?"

"How do companies recover from a financial loss?"

"Have you ever been at a loss for words?"

"What are your thoughts on habitat loss?"

日记主题

Write about a time you felt a sense of loss.

Describe a loss that actually led to a positive change.

How do you feel when your favorite sports team suffers a loss?

Reflect on the concept of 'loss of innocence'.

Write about a financial loss you experienced and what you learned.

常见问题

10 个问题

Yes, it can be both. You can have 'a loss' or 'many losses' in sports or business, but 'loss' as a general concept is uncountable.

Loss is a noun (The loss was sad). Lose is a verb (I don't want to lose).

This is used when someone has died. It is a polite way to show sympathy.

It means you are confused or don't know what to do or say.

Yes, 'weight loss' is a very common compound noun.

In business, it is the total amount of money lost after all expenses are paid.

Usually, it is used in the singular even if many people died, though 'losses of lives' is technically possible.

It rhymes with 'boss'. The 'o' is short and the 'ss' is a soft 's' sound.

A product sold at a low price (a loss) to get customers into a store.

Usually it is negative, but 'weight loss' is often seen as positive.