account

¹ac·count

noun \ə-ˈkau̇nt\

Definition of ACCOUNT

1

archaic : reckoning, computation

2

a : a record of debit and credit entries to cover transactions involving a particular item or a particular person or concern

b : a statement of transactions during a fiscal period and the resulting balance

3

a : a statement explaining one's conduct

b : a statement or exposition of reasons, causes, or motives <no satisfactory account of these phenomena>

c : a reason for an action : basis <on that account I must refuse>

4

a (1) : a formal business arrangement providing for regular dealings or services (as banking, advertising, or store credit) and involving the establishment and maintenance of an account; also : client, customer (2) : money deposited in a bank account and subject to withdrawal by the depositor

b : an arrangement in which a person uses the Internet or e-mail services of a particular company

5

a : value, importance <it's of no account to me>

b : esteem <stood high in their account>

6

: advantage <turned her wit to good account>

7

a : careful thought : consideration <have to take many things into account>

b : a usually mental record : track <keep account of all you do>

8

: a description of facts, conditions, or events : report, narrative <the newspaper account of the fire> <by all accounts they're well-off>; also : performance <a straightforward account of the sonata>

— on account

: with the price charged to one's account

— on account of

: for the sake of : by reason of

— on no account

: under no circumstances

— on one's own account

1

: on one's own behalf

2

: at one's own risk

3

: by oneself : on one's own

Examples of ACCOUNT

1. the difference between the debit and credit sides of an account
2. We always keep very good accounts.
3. We opened new accounts at a bank last week.
4. I took out my money and closed my account.
5. You can withdraw up to $1,000 a day from your account.
6. Every week, she puts a part of her paycheck into a separate account.
7. setting up a bank account

Origin of ACCOUNT

Middle English acounte, accompte, from Anglo-French acunte, from acunter

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to ACCOUNT

Synonyms

chronicle, chronology, commentary (usually commentaries), history, narration, narrative, record, report, story

Antonyms

uselessness, worthlessness

Related Words

version; deposition, documentation, testament, testimonial, testimony, witness; annals, blog, diary, journal, log, logbook, memoir; minutes, procès-verbal; anecdote, tale, yarn; epic, saga; gest (or geste), romance; recital, recitation; case history, case study

Near Antonyms

inapplicability, inappropriateness

Other Business Terms

amortize, caveat emptor, clearinghouse, divest, due diligence, emolument, green-collar, marque, overhead, perquisite

Rhymes with ACCOUNT

amount, blood count, demount, discount, dismount, high-count, point count, recount, remount, seamount, surmount, viscount

²account

verb

Definition of ACCOUNT

transitive verb

1

: to think of as : consider <accounts himself lucky>

2

: to probe into : analyze

intransitive verb

1

: to furnish a justifying analysis or explanation —used with for <couldn't account for the loss>

2

a : to be the sole or primary factor —used with for <the pitcher accounted for all three putouts>

b : to bring about the capture, death, or destruction of something —used with for <accounted for two rabbits>

Examples of ACCOUNT

1. <account themselves lucky to be alive>

Origin of ACCOUNT

Middle English, from Anglo-French acunter, from a- (from Latin ad-) + cunter to count

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to ACCOUNT

Synonyms

consider, call, count, esteem, hold, look (on or upon), rate, reckon, regard, set down, view

Related Words

believe, deem, feel, sense, think; conceive, fancy, imagine