record

 

noun

Pronunciation: /ˈrɛkɔːd/
  • 1a thing constituting a piece of evidence about the past, especially an account kept in writing or some other permanent form: identification was made through dental records a record of meter readings
  • (also court record) Law an official report of the proceedings and judgement in a court.
  • Computing a number of related items of information which are handled as a unit.
  • 2the sum of the past achievements or performance of a person, organization, or thing: the safety record at the airport is first class the team preserved their unbeaten home record
  • short for criminal record
  • 3the best performance or most remarkable event of its kind: he held the world record for over a decade [as modifier]: record profits
  • 4a thin plastic disc carrying recorded sound in grooves on each surface, for reproduction by a record player: I’m listening to records in my room
  • a piece or collection of music reproduced on a record or on another medium: my favourite record

verb

Pronunciation: /rɪˈkɔːd/
[with object]
  • 1set down in writing or some other permanent form for later reference: they were asked to keep a diary and record everything they ate or drank (as adjective recorded) levels of recorded crime
  • state or set down publicly or officially: the coroner recorded a verdict of accidental death
  • (of an instrument or observer) show or register (a measurement or result): the temperature was the lowest recorded since 1926
  • achieve (a certain score or result): they recorded their first win of the season
  • 2convert (sound or a performance) into a permanent form for subsequent reproduction or broadcast: they were recording a guitar recital [no object]: I would go into the studio while the guys were recording
  • produce (a programme, or a piece or collection of music) by recording a performance: they go into the studio next week to record their debut album they recorded an episode of the show

Phrases

for the record

so that the true facts are recorded or known: for the record, I have never been to the flat

a matter of record

a thing that is established as a fact through being officially recorded: it is a matter of record that the bank deposited £50 million his adherence to the Liberal Party is a matter of record

off the record

not made as an official or attributable statement: all this is off the record

on record

  • 1 (also on the record) used in reference to the making of an official or public statement: I would like to place on record my sincere thanks
  • 2officially measured and noted: it proved to be one of the warmest Decembers on record

put (or set) the record straight

give the true version of events that have been reported incorrectly: she wanted to put the record straight and deny that she had ever been convicted

Derivatives

recordable

adjective

Origin:

Middle English: from Old French record 'remembrance', from recorder 'bring to remembrance', from Latin recordari 'remember', based on cor, cord- 'heart'. The noun was earliest used in law to denote the fact of being written down as evidence. The verb originally meant 'narrate orally or in writing', also 'repeat so as to commit to memory'