expensive
//ɪkˈspɛnsɪv//
Forms
- Comparative
- more expensive
- Superlative
- most expensive
Definitions
1.Having a high price or cost.
- In Starbucks’s case, the firm has in effect turned the process of making an expensive cup of coffee into intellectual property.
2.Taking a lot of system time or resources.
- Your car is more expensive than mine.
- This ring is expensive. Show me some cheap ones.
- Whenever I find something I like, it's too expensive.
3.Having a high economy rate.
- Your car is more expensive than mine.
- This ring is expensive. Show me some cheap ones.
- Whenever I find something I like, it's too expensive.
Frequency
Overall
Common· #1794
By learning goal
- Everyday conversation
- Uncommon
- General reading & writing
- Common
- Academic
- Rare
- Literature
- Rare
Related words
Etymology
From Latin *expēnsīvus, from expendō (“to weigh out (money), to pay out”) (whence English expend).
By surface analysis, expense + -ive.
In the sense of "high-priced" has largely displaced dear.