damage: Meaning and Definition of

dam•age

Pronunciation: (dam'ij), [key]
— n., v., -aged, -ag•ing.
—n.
  1. injury or harm that reduces value or usefulness: The storm did considerable damage to the crops.
  2. the estimated money equivalent for detriment or injury sustained.
  3. Often,cost; expense; charge: What are the damages for the lubrication job on my car?
—v.t.
  1. to cause damage to; injure or harm; reduce the value or usefulness of: He damaged the saw on a nail.
—v.i.
  1. to become damaged: Soft wood damages easily.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
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