account
account
ac·count
I
/əˈkaʊnt/ noun , pl -counts
1 a [ count ] : a record of money that has been paid and money that has been received : bill
the difference between the debit and credit sides of an account
— see also expense account
1 b accounts [ plural ] : records of income and expenses
We always keep very good accounts.
an accounts department
The company's accounts show a profit this year: our accounts receivable exceed our accounts payable. [=the money owed to us exceeds the money we owe]
2 [ count ] : an arrangement in which a bank keeps a record of the money that a person puts in and takes out of the bank
We opened new accounts at a bank last week.
I took out my money and closed my account.
You can withdraw up to $1,000 a day from your account.
Every week, she puts/deposits a part of her paycheck into a separate account.
setting up a bank account
My wife and I keep our money in a joint account. [=an account that both of us can use]
— often used before another noun
Please enter your name and account number.
You can check your account balance [=the amount of money in your account] on the Internet.
see also checking account, savings account
3 [ count ] : a company's record of the products or services used by a customer and of the money that the customer owes or has paid to the company
I don't have the money right now. Put it on my account. = Charge it to my account.
If you return the clothes, the store will credit your account. [=you will not have to pay for the clothes]
When do you intend to settle your account? [=pay what you owe]
— see also charge account, credit account
◇ In figurative use, to settle an account or to settle accounts with someone is to do something that brings a final end to an argument, disagreement, etc.
She's decided to settle accounts with her old political rivals.
4 [ count ] : a business arrangement in which a person or company regularly buys products or services from a particular company
She makes sure that all of the company's accounts [=customers, clients] make the necessary payments.
We just lost the Smith account.
That company was one of our biggest/best accounts.
She will be our account manager. [=the person who manages our account]
5 [ count ] : an arrangement in which a person uses the Internet or e-mail services of a particular company
I use two separate e-mail accounts.
6 [ count ] : a description of an event or situation : a story or report about something
personal/firsthand/eyewitness accounts from the war
According to one account, the party was a complete disaster.
— often + of
She gave the police a full/complete/detailed account of what happened.
We read an account of her trip to Paris.
a written account of his long and successful career
7 [ count ] : a list or description of facts
Our goal is to give an accurate account of the process.
an account of how the system works
The document is an account of the country's reasons for going to war.
8 [ count ] : a reason or explanation for an action
You will be asked to give an account of your actions. [=to explain the reasons for your actions]
He could give no account of what he did with the money.
— often used in the formal phrase on that account
I hope we won't lose our friendship on that account. [=for that reason]
9 [ noncount ] formal : value or importance
— used in the phrases of no account and of little account
He felt that his opinions were of no account to the others. [=he thought that the other people didn't care about his opinions]
It's of little account what I may think about it.
see also no-account
bring/call (someone) to account
: to require (someone) to explain and accept punishment or criticism for bad or wrong behavior
He was called to account by his boss for failing to spot the mistake in the company's records.
by/from all accounts
: according to all of the different descriptions of something
By all accounts, the band put on a great show. [=everyone says that the band put on a great show]
She was, by all accounts, good at her job.
They seemed, from all accounts, to have a happy marriage.
by your own account
: according to what you have said about your own life or experiences
By her own account, that was the worst performance of her career. [=she said that was her worst performance]
They had, by their own account, a wonderful time.
give a good account of yourself
: to perform well especially in a competition
If I ever had to fight, I think I could give a good account of myself.
on account of
: because of : for the reason of
The game was canceled on account of the rain.
They were treated badly on account of their beliefs.
On account of his bad behavior, he will not be allowed to play with the new toy.
on no account (
chiefly Brit : for no reason : under no circumstances
— used to say that something will not or should not happen
On no account should the children be left at home alone.
They said that on no account would they leave before the end of the game.
on someone's account
: because of someone : in order to please someone
Don't leave on our account. [=because of us]
You didn't have to clean your room on my account. I don't care if your room is dirty.
on your own account
1 : by yourself : on your own : without the help of others
She bought the house entirely on her own account.
He left the company and went into business on his own account.
2 : for your own sake : in order to make a situation good for yourself
I'm doing it on my own account, not for anyone else.
take (something) into account (
: to think about (something) before doing something (such as making a decision) : consider
Try to take our feelings into account. [=try to think about how we will feel]
Other issues must be taken into account before a choice can be made.
She did very well on the test when you take into account how little she studied.
She takes no account of my feelings. [=she doesn't consider how I feel]
The new health plan fails to take account of the fact that many people cannot pay for their medicine.
turn (something) to (good) account
formal : to gain or profit from (something) : to take advantage of (something)
Is there a way to turn this situation to good account?
————————
II
verb , -counts, -count·ed, -count·ing [ + obj ]
formal : to think of (someone or something) in a specified way
— usually used as (be) accounted
Their first project was accounted [=considered] a success.
account for [ phrasal verb ]
1 account for (something)
1 a : to give a reason or explanation for (something)
Eventually, you will need to account for your actions/behavior.
How do you account for [=explain] your success?
◇ The informal saying there's no accounting for taste means that there is no way to understand why some people like something while other people do not.
I don't see why they liked the movie, but there's no accounting for taste.
1 b : to be the cause of (something)
The disease accounted for over 10,000 deaths last year.
These new features account for the computer's higher price.
The disease cannot be accounted for [=explained] by genetics alone. There must be other causes as well.
1 c : to make up or form (a part of something)
Women account for [=constitute, compose] only 25 percent of our employees.
1 d US : to think about (something) before doing something : to take (something) into consideration
The researchers failed to account for the fact that most of the students were poor.
2 account for (someone or something)
2 a : to show what happened to (someone or something)
We have to account for the time [=to say how much time] we spend on each activity.
I'll have to account for the money I spent.
: to know the location of (someone or something)
The government couldn't account for millions of dollars of the taxpayers' money.
Is everyone accounted for? [=do we know where everyone is?]
All present and accounted for. [=everyone who is supposed to be here is here]
2 b : to destroy or kill (someone or something)
Enemy fighters have accounted for most of our bombers, Sir.
also chiefly Brit : to defeat or beat (someone or something)
We accounted for [=dispatched] the challengers 3‒2.
