account meaning and definition

ACCOUNT noun

Definition of account (noun)

1. a record or narrative description of past events
   • "a history of France"; "he gave an inaccurate account of the plot to kill the president"; "the story of exposure to lead"
   • synonyms: chronicle, history, story
2. a short account of the news
   • "the report of his speech"; "the story was on the 11 o'clock news"; "the account of his speech that was given on the evening news made the governor furious"
   • synonyms: news report, report, story, write up
3. a formal contractual relationship established to provide for regular banking or brokerage or business services
   • "he asked to see the executive who handled his account"
   • synonyms: business relationship
4. a statement that makes something comprehensible by describing the relevant structure or operation or circumstances etc.
   • "the explanation was very simple"; "I expected a brief account"
   • synonyms: explanation
5. grounds
   • "don't do it on my account"; "the paper was rejected on account of its length"; "he tried to blame the victim but his success on that score was doubtful"
   • synonyms: score
6. importance or value
   • "a person of considerable account"; "he predicted that although it is of small account now it will rapidly increase in importance"
7. a statement of recent transactions and the resulting balance
   • "they send me an accounting every month"
   • synonyms: account statement, accounting
8. the act of informing by verbal report
   • "he heard reports that they were causing trouble"; "by all accounts they were a happy couple"
   • synonyms: report
9. an itemized statement of money owed for goods shipped or services rendered
   • "he paid his bill and left"; "send me an account of what I owe"
   • synonyms: bill, invoice
10. the quality of taking advantage
    • "she turned her writing skills to good account"

ACCOUNT verb

Definition of account (verb)

1. be the sole or primary factor in the existence, acquisition, supply, or disposal of something
   • "Passing grades account for half of the grades given in this exam"
2. keep an account of
   • synonyms: calculate
3. to give an account or representation of in words
   • "Discreet Italian police described it in a manner typically continental"
   • synonyms: describe, report
4. furnish a justifying analysis or explanation
   • "I can't account for the missing money"
   • synonyms: answer for