accounting

[ uh-koun-ting ]

/ əˈkaʊn tɪŋ /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR accounting ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

the theory and system of setting up, maintaining, and auditing the books of a firm; art of analyzing the financial position and operating results of a business house from a study of its sales, purchases, overhead, etc. (distinguished from bookkeeping).

a detailed report of the financial state or transactions of a person or entity: an accounting of the estate.

the rendering or submission of such a report.

Nearby words

account receivable, accountability, accountable, accountancy, accountant, accounting, accounting machine, accounting period, accouplement, accouter, accouterment

Origin of accounting

Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400; see origin at account, -ing¹

Can be confused

accounting bookkeeping finance(s)

Definition for accounting (2 of 2)

account

[ uh-kount ]

/ əˈkaʊnt /

noun

an oral or written description of particular events or situations; narrative: an account of the meetings; an account of the trip.

an explanatory statement of conduct, as to a superior.

a statement of reasons, causes, etc., explaining some event.

reason; basis: On this account I'm refusing your offer.

importance; worth; value; consequence: things of no account.

estimation; judgment: In his account it was an excellent piece of work.

an amount of money deposited with a bank, as in a checking or savings account: My account is now with Third National.

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.

a statement of financial transactions.

Bookkeeping.

a formal record of the debits and credits relating to the person, business, etc., named at the head of the ledger account.
a balance of a specified period's receipts and expenditures.

Commerce.

a business relation in which credit is used.
any customer or client, especially one carried on a regular credit basis.
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.

verb (used without object)

to give an explanation (usually followed by for): to account for the accident.

to answer concerning one's conduct, duties, etc. (usually followed by for): to account for the missing typewriters.

to provide a report on money received, kept, and spent.

to cause (usually followed by for): The humidity accounts for our discomfort. His reckless driving accounted for the accident.

verb (used with object)

to regard; consider as: I account myself well paid.

to assign or impute (usually followed by to): the many virtues accounted to him.

Origin of account

1225–75; (noun) Middle English a(c)ount(e), ac(c)ompte < Anglo-French, Old French aco(u)nte, acompte; (v.) Middle English ac(co)unten < Old French acunter, acompter. See ac-, count¹

SYNONYMS FOR account

1 report, chronicle.

2 justification.

5 import, significance.

6 consideration.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR account ON THESAURUS.COM

Related forms

pre·ac·count, verbsub·ac·count, nounun·ac·count·ed, adjective

Synonym study

1. See narrative.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for accounting

Brat has also worked as an economist in the Army and for the accounting firm Arthur Andersen.
Who Is David Brat?|Ben Jacobs|June 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Combined they sold about 27,000 units, accounting for about 45 percent of the total hybrid market.
Hybrid Cars Are Niche No More|The Daily Beast|June 6, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Nu Nu Yin, 30, left her accounting job in August to open Fantastic Inle Travel & Tours with her lover.
A Little Too Off the Beaten Path in Burma|Katya Cengel|June 2, 2014|DAILY BEAST
What does it say that a VA hospital with this many complaints has not only avoided an accounting—but actually received awards?
Exclusive: Texas VA Run Like a ‘Crime Syndicate,’ Whistleblower Says|Jacob Siegel|May 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST

If there's no accounting for taste, there's no accounting for tastelessness, certainly.
Our Dumb Puritan Laws: Sex Bans and Illegal Adultery|Kevin Bleyer|April 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He brought an action before the Alcalde for an accounting and for the affirmation of his interest in the claims.
Memoirs of Orange Jacobs|Orange Jacobs
If you consider the matter rightly, therefore, instead of accounting me an enemy, you will rank me among your benefactors.
Jane Talbot|Charles Brockden Brown
The body continues to lengthen, accounting for the increase in total length of the adult (see table 1).
Speciation and Evolution of the Pygmy Mice, Genus Baiomys|Robert L. Packard
Such, Gentlemen, is the fundamental truth on which rests all religion, and all philosophy capable of accounting for facts.
The Heavenly Father|Ernest Naville
His work brings him in contact with both the sales and accounting departments.
Cyclopedia of Commerce, Accountancy, Business Administration, v. 1|Various

British Dictionary definitions for accounting (1 of 2)

accounting

/ (əˈkaʊntɪŋ) /

noun

the skill or practice of maintaining and auditing accounts and preparing reports on the assets, liabilities, etc, of a business
(as modifier)an accounting period; accounting entity

British Dictionary definitions for accounting (2 of 2)

account

/ (əˈkaʊnt) /

noun

a verbal or written report, description, or narration of some occurrence, event, etc

an explanation of conduct, esp one made to someone in authority

ground; basis; consideration (often in the phrases on this (that, every, no, etc) account, on account of)

importance, consequence, or valueof little account

assessment; judgment

profit or advantageto turn an idea to account

part or behalf (only in the phrase on one's or someone's account)

finance

a business relationship between a bank, department store, stockbroker, etc, and a depositor, customer, or client permitting the latter certain banking or credit services
the sum of money deposited at a bank
the amount of credit available to the holder of an account
a record of these

a statement of monetary transactions with the resulting balance

(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

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

a regular client or customer, esp a firm that purchases commodities on credit
an area of business assigned to anotherthey transferred their publicity account to a new agent

call to account or bring to account

to insist on explanation
to rebuke; reprimand
to hold responsible

give a bad account of oneself to perform badlyhe gave a bad account of himself in the examination

give a good account of oneself to perform well

on account

on credit
Also: to account as partial payment

on account of (preposition) because of; by reason of

take account of or take into account to take into consideration; allow for

settle accounts with or square accounts with

to pay or receive a balance due
to get revenge on (someone)

See bank account, credit account

verb

(tr) to consider or reckonhe accounts himself poor

Word Origin for account

C13: from Old French acont, from conter, compter to count 1

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Culture definitions for accounting

accounting

The system of recording and auditing business transactions. (See audit.)

Idioms and Phrases with accounting

account

In addition to the idiom beginning with account

account for

also see:

all present and accounted for
by all accounts
call to account
give a good account
no accounting for tastes
on account of
on no account
on one's own account
take account of
take into account
turn to good account

accounting

noun

RELATED CONTENT

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of accounting

Can be confused

Definition for accounting (2 of 2)

account

noun

verb (used without object)

verb (used with object)

Origin of account

SYNONYMS FOR account

Related forms

Synonym study

Examples from the Web for accounting

British Dictionary definitions for accounting (1 of 2)

accounting

noun

British Dictionary definitions for accounting (2 of 2)

account

noun

verb

Word Origin for account

Culture definitions for accounting

accounting

Idioms and Phrases with accounting

account