Accounting - Definition

n 1: a convincing explanation that reveals basic causes; "he was
unable to give a clear accounting for his actions"
2: a system that provides quantitative information about
finances
3: the occupation of maintaining and auditing records and
preparing financial reports for a business [syn:
accountancy, accounting]
4: a bookkeeper's chronological list of related debits and
credits of a business; forms part of a ledger of accounts
[syn: accounting, accounting system, method of
accounting]
5: a statement of recent transactions and the resulting balance;
"they send me an accounting every month" [syn: account,
accounting, account statement]