expense
expense (ĭk-spĕnsʹ) noun
1. a. Something spent to attain a goal or accomplish a purpose: an expense of time and energy on the project. b. A loss for the sake of something gained; a sacrifice: achieved speed at the expense of accuracy. See synonyms at price.
2. An expenditure of money; a cost: an improvement that was well worth the expense; a trip with all expenses paid.
3. expenses Abbr. exp. a. Charges incurred by an employee in the performance of work: was reimbursed for her travel expenses. b. Informal. Money allotted for payment of such charges.
4. Something requiring the expenditure of money: Redecorating the house will be a considerable expense.
5. Archaic. The act of expending.
verb, transitive
expensed, expensing, expenses
1. To charge with expenses.
2. To write off as an expense.
idiom.
at (one's) expense
To (one's) detriment or chagrin: telling jokes at my expense.
[Middle English, from Anglo-Norman, from Latin (pecunia) expēnsa, (money) paid out from feminine past participle of expendere, to pay out. See expend.]