ac·count
(ə-kount′)n.1. A narrative or record of events.
2. a. A reason given for a particular action or event: What is the account for this loss?
b. A report relating to one's conduct: gave a satisfactory account of herself.
c. A basis or ground: no reason to worry on that account.
3. a. A formal banking, brokerage, or business relationship established to provide for regular services, dealings, and other financial transactions.
b. A precise list or enumeration of financial transactions.
c. A sum of money deposited for checking, savings, or brokerage use.
d. A customer having a business or credit relationship with a firm: salespeople visiting their accounts.
4. A private access to a computer system or online service, usually requiring a password to enter.
5. Worth, standing, or importance: a landowner of some account.
6. Profit or advantage: turned her writing skills to good account.
tr.v. ac·count·ed,
ac·count·ing,
ac·counts To consider as being; deem. See Synonyms at
consider. See Usage Note at
as1.
Phrasal Verb: account for1. To constitute the governing or primary factor in: Bad weather accounted for the long delay.
2. To provide an explanation or justification for: The suspect couldn't account for his time that night.
Idioms: call to account1. To challenge or contest.
2. To hold answerable for.
on account of Because of; for the sake of: "We got married on account of the baby" (Anne Tyler).
on no account Under no circumstances.
on (one's) own account1. For oneself.
2. On one's own; by oneself: He wants to work on his own account.
on (someone's) account For someone's benefit: It's nice of you to make such an effort on his account.
take into account To take into consideration; allow for.
[Middle English, from Old French acont, from aconter, to reckon : a-, to (from Latin ad-; see ad-) + cunter, to count (from Latin computāre, to sum up; see compute).]
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
accounts
(əˈkaʊnts) pl n (Accounting & Book-keeping)
a. a chronological list of debits and credits relating to a specified asset, liability, expense, or income of a business and forming part of the ledger
b. (as modifier): an accounts book.
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014