Value. Value?

What is the definition of "value"?

I have no idea.  Well, some idea, but--after trying to define it this morning--less than I thought.

Er....  It has to be subjective; and it has to be dependent upon time; and it has to be dependent on place; and it has to be make someone better.  Or the most people better.  Or something....   We just spent thirty minutes debating this simple question on the MBM team, and I feel dizzy from chasing our collective tail. 

So, I throw it open to you, our MBelovedM readers:

What is the definition of "value"?  [In one sentence.]

Comments

[David McGinnis]

A quantifiable, whether objective or subjective, amount of desirability.

do you find my made-up definition quanitfiably desirable?

[Aaron]

You're post indicates that value is, essentially, contextual. So; value is the quantifiable context of some thing.

[Aaron]

Er, your, not you're. Sigh.

[Aaron]

Your, not you're. Sigh.

Anyway, using this basis, when we say something is 'invaluable', we're saying that it's value is so self-evident that it defies context, or that the context and the thing are inextricably intertwined.

[JonnyB]

Aaron - thanks for clearing up that whole invaluable thing for me.
That was valuable.

[Mark]

Value equals the difference between effort (or cost) expended and the amount of enjoyment ( or profit) received for those efforts.