account (əˈkaʊnt) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) |
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| —n |
| 1. | a verbal or written report, description, or narration of some occurrence, event, etc |
| 2. | an explanation of conduct, esp one made to someone in authority |
| 3. | ground; basis; consideration (often in the phrases on this (that, every, no, etc) account, on account of) |
| 4. | importance, consequence, or value: of little account |
| 5. | assessment; judgment |
| 6. | profit or advantage: to turn an idea to account |
| 7. | part or behalf (only in the phrase on one'sorsomeone's account) |
| 8. | finance |
| | a. a business relationship between a bank, department store, stockbroker, etc, and a depositor, customer, or client permitting the latter certain banking or credit services |
| | b. the sum of money deposited at a bank |
| | c. the amount of credit available to the holder of an account |
| | d. a record of these |
| 9. | a statement of monetary transactions with the resulting balance |
| 10. | (on the London Stock Exchange) the period, ordinarily of a fortnight's duration, in which transactions formerly took place and at the end of which settlements were made |
| 11. | accounting 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 |
| 12. | a. a regular client or customer, esp a firm that purchases commodities on credit |
| | b. an area of business assigned to another: they transferred their publicity account to a new agent |
| 13. | call to account, bring to account |
| | a. to insist on explanation |
| | b. to rebuke; reprimand |
| | c. to hold responsible |
| 14. | give a bad account of oneself to perform badly: he gave a bad account of himself in the examination |
| 15. | give a good account of oneself to perform well |
| 16. | on account |
| | a. on credit |
| | b. Also: to account as partial payment |
| 17. | (preposition) on account of because of; by reason of |
| 18. | take account of, take into account to take into consideration; allow for |
| 19. | settle accounts with, square accounts with |
| | a. to pay or receive a balance due |
| | b. to get revenge on (someone) |
| 20. | bank account See credit account |
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| —vb |
| 21. | (tr) to consider or reckon: he accounts himself poor |
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| [C13: from Old French acont, from conter, compter to count1] |