/euh kownt"/ , n.
1. an oral or written description of particular events or situations; narrative: an account of the meetings; an account of the trip.
2. an explanatory statement of conduct, as to a superior.
3. a statement of reasons, causes, etc., explaining some event.
4. reason; basis: On this account I'm refusing your offer.
5. importance; worth; value; consequence: things of no account.
6. estimation; judgment: In his account it was an excellent piece of work.
7. an amount of money deposited with a bank, as in a checking or savings account: My account is now with Third National.
8. Also called charge account . an accommodation or service extended by a business to a customer or client permitting the charging of goods or services, the returning for credit of unsatisfactory merchandise, etc.: Do you have an account at this store? My account with the restaurant is past due.
9. a statement of financial transactions.
10. Bookkeeping.
a. a formal record of the debits and credits relating to the person, business, etc., named at the head of the ledger account.
b. a balance of a specified period's receipts and expenditures.
11. Com.
a. a business relation in which credit is used.
b. any customer or client, esp. one carried on a regular credit basis.
c. Also called advertising account . the business assigned to an advertising agency by a client: The toothpaste account was awarded to a new agency last year.
12. call to account ,
a. to hold accountable; blame; reprimand: Call them to account for having endangered their lives.
b. ask for an explanation of.
13. give a good (bad , etc. ) account of , to do something or conduct oneself in a good (bad, etc.) manner: She gave a good account of herself in the tennis tournament.
14. hold to account , to hold responsible; hold accountable or culpable: If any of the silver is missing, I'm going to hold you to account.
15. on account , as an installment or a partial payment: I can't pay the balance, but here's $10 on account.
16. on account of ,
a. by reason of; because of.
b. for the sake of: She saw it through on account of me.
17. on all accounts , in any case; under any circumstances. Also, at all accounts .
18. on no account , under no circumstances; absolutely not: On no account should you buy that painting without having it appraised.
19. take account of ,
a. to make allowance for; consider: One must take account of the difficult circumstances. Taking account of the high overhead, the price is not excessive.
b. to notice or observe. Also, take into account .
20. turn to account , to derive profit or use from; turn to advantage: She has turned her misfortunes to account.
v.i.
21. to give an explanation (usually fol. by for ): to account for the accident.
22. to answer concerning one's conduct, duties, etc. (usually fol. by for ): to account for the missing typewriters.
23. to provide a report on money received, kept, and spent.
24. to cause (usually fol. by for ): The humidity accounts for our discomfort. His reckless driving accounted for the accident.
v.t.
25. to regard; consider as: I account myself well paid.
26. to assign or impute (usually fol. by to ): the many virtues accounted to him.
[ 1225-75; (n.) ME a ( c ) ount ( e ), ac ( c ) ompte aco ( u ) nte, acompte; (v.) ME ac ( co ) unten acunter, acompter. See AC-, COUNT 1 ]
Syn. 1. report, chronicle. See narrative. 2. justification. 5. import, significance. 6. consideration.