account in WordNet English dictionary

1. the quality of taking advantage
   "she turned her writing skills to good account"
   account 
   
2. importance or value
   "a person of considerable account"; "he predicted that although it is of small account now it will rapidly increase in importance"
   account 
   
3. a record or narrative description of past events
   "a history of France"; "he gave an inaccurate account of the plot to kill the president"; "the story of exposure to lead"
   history  account  chronicle  story 
   
4. an itemized statement of money owed for goods shipped or services rendered
   "he paid his bill and left"; "send me an account of what I owe"
   bill  account  invoice 
   
5. a short account of the news
   "the report of his speech"; "the story was on the 11 o'clock news"; "the account of his speech that was given on the evening news made the governor furious"
   report  news report  story  account  write up 
   
6. a statement that makes something comprehensible by describing the relevant structure or operation or circumstances etc.
   "the explanation was very simple"; "I expected a brief account"
   explanation  account 
   
7. the act of informing by verbal report
   "he heard reports that they were causing trouble"; "by all accounts they were a happy couple"
   report  account 
   
8. grounds
   "don't do it on my account"; "the paper was rejected on account of its length"; "he tried to blame the victim but his success on that score was doubtful"
   score  account 
   
9. a statement of recent transactions and the resulting balance
   "they send me an accounting every month"
   account  accounting  account statement 
   
10. a formal contractual relationship established to provide for regular banking or brokerage or business services
    "he asked to see the executive who handled his account"
    account  business relationship 
    

1. furnish a justifying analysis or explanation
   "I can't account for the missing money"
   account  answer for 
   
2. to give an account or representation of in words
   "Discreet Italian police described it in a manner typically continental"
   report  describe  account 
   
3. keep an account of
   account  calculate 
   
4. be the sole or primary factor in the existence, acquisition, supply, or disposal of something
   "Passing grades account for half of the grades given in this exam"
   account