əˈkaunt n. & v. --n. 1 a narration or
description (gave a long account of
the ordeal). 2 a an
arrangement or
facility at a bank or
building society etc.
for commercial or
financial transactions,
esp. for depositing
and withdrawing
money (opened an account). b the assets credited by
such an arrangement (has a
large account;
paid the money
into her account). c an arrangement at a
shop for buying goods on
credit (has an account at the newsagent's). 3 a (often in pl.) a
record or
statement of money, goods, or services received or expended,
with the
balance (firms must
keep detailed accounts). b (in pl.) the
practice of
accounting or
reckoning (is
good at accounts). 4 a statement of the
administration of money in
trust (demand an account). 5 the
period during which transactions
take place on a
stock exchange; the period
from one account
day to the
next. 6 counting, reckoning. --v.tr. (foll. by to be or compl.)
consider,
regard as (account it a
misfortune; account
him wise; account him to be guilty). øaccount day a day of
periodic settlement of stock exchange accounts. account for 1
serve as or
provide an
explanation or
reason for (that accounts for
their misbehaviour). 2 a
give a reckoning of or
answer for (money etc. entrusted). b answer for (one's conduct). 3
succeed in
killing, destroying, disposing
of, or defeating. 4 supply or
make up a specified
amount or
proportion of (rent accounts for 50% of expenditure). account rendered a bill which
has been sent but is
not yet paid. by
all accounts in everyone's
opinion.
call to account
require an explanation from (a person). give a good (or bad) account of
oneself make a
favourable (or unfavourable)
impression; be
successful (or unsuccessful). keep account of keep a record of;
follow closely. leave
out of account
fail or
decline to consider. money of account denominations of money used in reckoning, but not
current as coins. of no account
unimportant. of
some account
important. on account 1 (of goods) to be paid for later. 2 (of money) in
part payment. on account of
because of. on no account
under no circumstances;
certainly not. on one's
own account for one's own purposes; at one's own
risk. settle (or square) accounts with 1
receive or pay money etc. owed
to. 2
have revenge on. take account of (or take into account) consider
along with
other factors (took their
age into account).
turn to account (or good account) turn to one's
advantage. [ME f. OF acont, aconter (as
AC-, conter COUNT(1))]
