loss

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
loss/lɒs/

▶noun

• 1 the fact or process of losing something or someone.

  ■ the feeling of grief after losing a valued person or thing.

  ■ a person or thing that is badly missed when lost.

• 2 a defeat in sport.

• 3 the amount by which money spent in operation or production exceeds money earned.

– phrases
at a loss

• 1 uncertain or puzzled.

• 2 making less money than is spent.

– origin OE los ‘destruction’, of Gmc origin; rel. to loose; later prob. a back-form. from lost, past part. of lose.