[, ] () the activity of comparing the cost of doing sth with the profit or advantages that result from it, in order to see whether it is worth doing成本效益分析（将做某事的成本和从中所得到的赢利或利益作比较）◆A cost-benefit analysis was carried out before the new harbour was built.兴建新海港之前进行了成本效益分析。