1. (n.) The act of losing; failure; destruction; privation; as, the loss of property; loss of money by gaming; loss of health or reputation.

2. (n.) The state of losing or having lost; the privation, defect, misfortune, harm, etc., which ensues from losing.

3. (v. t.) 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.

4. (n.) The state of being lost or destroyed; especially, the wreck or foundering of a ship or other vessel.

5. (v. t.) Failure to gain or win; as, loss of a race or battle.

6. (v. t.) Failure to use advantageously; as, loss of time.

7. (v. t.) Killed, wounded, and captured persons, or captured property.

8. (v. t.) 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.

ablation annihilation attrition bankruptcy bereavement breakage breakdown collapse confusion consumption corrosion crack-up crippling damage death decrement defeat deliquescence demise denial depletion deprivation deprivement destruction detriment devastation dilapidation diminution disablement disadvantage disappearance disappointment dispossession disrepair dissipation dissolution divestment downfall drawback drubbing dying encroachment erosion exhaustion extermination extinction failure forfeit forfeiture handicap harm havoc hobbling hurt hurting impairment impoverishment incapacitation infringement injury inroad liability losing losings loss of ground losses maiming mayhem mischief mislaying misplacement misplacing mutilation passing prejudice privation reduction ruin ruination ruinousness sabotage sacrifice scathe shrinkage sickening spoiling squandering step backward trouncing wastage waste wasting weakening wear and tear