inventory

¹in·ven·to·ry

noun \ˈin-vən-ˌtȯr-ē\

plural in·ven·to·ries

Definition of INVENTORY

1

a : an itemized list of current assets: as (1) : a catalog of the property of an individual or estate (2) : a list of goods on hand

b : a survey of natural resources

c : a list of traits, preferences, attitudes, interests, or abilities used to evaluate personal characteristics or skills

2

: survey, summary

3

: the quantity of goods or materials on hand : stock

4

: the act or process of taking an inventory

— in·ven·to·ri·al \ˌin-vən-ˈtȯr-ē-əl\ adjective

— in·ven·to·ri·al·ly \-ē-ə-lē\ adverb

Examples of INVENTORY

1. We made an inventory of the library's collection.
2. The dealer keeps a large inventory of used cars and trucks.
3. Inventories at both stores were low.
4. How can a small business afford to keep so much inventory?
5. We'll be doing inventory on the collection soon.

Origin of INVENTORY

Middle English inventarie, inventorie, from Anglo-French inventaire, inventorie, from Latin inventarium, from inventum thing found, topic, neuter of inventus

First Known Use: 15th century

Related to INVENTORY

Synonyms

budget, force, fund, supply, pool, repertoire, reservoir, stock

Related Words

reserve, resource; cache, hoard, stockpile; refill, renewal, replacement; kitty, nest egg, pot, purse; fountain, mine, source, spring, well, wellspring

Near Antonyms

amplification, enlargement, expansion; addendum, supplement

Other Business Terms

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

Rhymes with INVENTORY

a priori, allegory, amatory, auditory, bedtime story, cacciatore, castratory, category, con amore, cover story, crematory, damnatory, decretory, dilatory, dormitory, excretory, expletory, feudatory, fumitory, Göteborg, gustatory, gyratory, horror story, hortatory, hunky-dory, laudatory, lavatory, mandatory, migratory, minatory, monitory, Montessori, morning glory, nugatory, offertory, oratory, overstory, piscatory, precatory, predatory, prefatory, probatory, promissory, promontory, purgatory, repertory, Ruwenzori, signatory, statutory, sudatory, territory, transitory, understory, vibratory, vomitory, yakitori

²inventory

transitive verb

inventoriedinventory·ing

Definition of INVENTORY

: to make an inventory of : catalog

Examples of INVENTORY

1. We'll be inventorying the collection soon.
2. <would you inventory the supplies in the back room?>

First Known Use of INVENTORY

1602

Related to INVENTORY

Synonyms

enumerate, ¹list, itemize, numerate

Related Words

count, mark, number; check (off), tick (off)

Other Business Terms

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

in·ven·to·ry

noun \ˈin-vən-ˌtōr-ē, -ˌtȯr-\   (Medical Dictionary)

plural ; in·ven·to·ries

Medical Definition of INVENTORY

1

: a questionnaire designed to provide an index of individual interests or personality traits

2

: a list of traits, preferences, attitudes, interests, or abilities that is used in evaluating personal characteristics or skills

inventory

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

In business, any item of property held in stock by a firm, including finished goods held for sale, goods in the process of production, raw materials, and items that will be consumed in the process of producing salable goods. Inventories appear on a company's balance sheet as assets. Inventory turnover, which indicates the rate at which goods are converted into cash, is a key factor in appraising a firm's financial condition. For financial statements, inventories may be priced either at cost or at market value.