1 cheap
Pronounced:
/ˈtʃi:p/
Function:
adjectiveInflected forms:
cheap·er; cheap·estMeaning:
1 a : not costing a lot of money ▪ I always buy the cheapest brand of cereal. ▪ a place where you can get a cheap [=inexpensive] meal ▪ Rent isn't cheap here. ▪ cheap imported goods —see also dirt cheap b : of low quality : not worth a lot of money ▪ curtains made of cheap material ▪ He wears a cheap watch that's always breaking. ▪ cheap perfume
2 : charging low prices ▪ This gas station is cheaper than the one by the highway. ▪ We ate at a cheap [=inexpensive] restaurant.
3 : not willing to share or spend money ▪ He was too cheap [=stingy] to pay for the dinner. ▪ Don't be cheap—buy good quality tires for your car. —often + with ▪ My uncle is cheap with his money.
4 : not hard to do or get ▪ It was a cheap [=easy] victory over a lousy team. ▪ He likes to harass the neighbor's dog as a cheap thrill. [=a minor thing done for entertainment]
5 : having little or no self-respect : ashamed of being used, abused, etc., by other people ▪ He felt cheap letting other people treat him like that.
2 : charging low prices ▪ This gas station is cheaper than the one by the highway. ▪ We ate at a cheap [=inexpensive] restaurant.
3 : not willing to share or spend money ▪ He was too cheap [=stingy] to pay for the dinner. ▪ Don't be cheap—buy good quality tires for your car. —often + with ▪ My uncle is cheap with his money.
4 : not hard to do or get ▪ It was a cheap [=easy] victory over a lousy team. ▪ He likes to harass the neighbor's dog as a cheap thrill. [=a minor thing done for entertainment]
5 : having little or no self-respect : ashamed of being used, abused, etc., by other people ▪ He felt cheap letting other people treat him like that.
on the cheap
informal : at the lowest possible cost : in a cheap way ▪ The movie was made on the cheap. ▪ They built the house on the cheap.
—cheap·ly adverb [more cheap*ly; most cheap*ly] ▪ It is not easy to live cheaply in this city. ▪ The radio was cheaply made and didn't last long.
—cheap·ness noun [noncount] ▪ The cheapness of the stock made it an appealing buy. ▪ My mother-in-law's cheapness [=stinginess] can be annoying.