Account - Definition

n 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" [syn: history, account, chronicle, 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"
[syn: report, news report, story, account, 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" [syn:
account, 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" [syn: explanation, account]
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" [syn: score,
account]
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" [syn: account,
accounting, account statement]
8: the act of informing by verbal report; "he heard reports that
they were causing trouble"; "by all accounts they were a
happy couple" [syn: report, account]
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" [syn: bill, account, invoice]
10: the quality of taking advantage; "she turned her writing
skills to good account"
v 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 [syn: account, calculate]
3: to give an account or representation of in words; "Discreet
Italian police described it in a manner typically
continental" [syn: report, describe, account]
4: furnish a justifying analysis or explanation; "I can't
account for the missing money" [syn: account, answer for]