record
noun /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...
- Landmark dates in the history of radio will be illustrated by archive recordings and written records of the time.
- The earliest historical records contain evidence of capital punishment.
- Travellers in York are compiling a book about their lives which should provide a permanent record of their community's history.
Synonyms
account(s), document(s), documentation, data, file(s), dossier(s), information, evidence, report(s);
annal(s), archive(s), chronicle(s);
note(s), minutes, transactions, proceedings, transcript(s);
certificate(s), deed(s), instrument(s);
diary, journal, memoir;
register, log, logbook;
yearbook, almanac;
inventory, list, catalogue;
case history, case study, casebook;
French procès-verbal
dated act(s)
rare muniment(s)
1.1 (also court record) Law An official report of the proceedings and judgement in a court.In the absence of the file, Ms. Sava arranged for a search of the court record....
- On Friday, the official judgment of his conviction was entered into the court record.
- Evidence from pages 46, 47 and 48 of the transcript of the examination of Luke Brock was read into the court record.
1.2 Computing A number of related items of information which are handled as a unit.As our project partners continued to add data and records to the database, the number of users accessing the database alone increased rapidly....
- Their efforts frequently result in thousands of database records and numerous Web pages with many interactive features.
- Basically they're bogus entities (such as database records, files, spreadsheet entries) that trigger an alarm when accessed.
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...
- He said the defendant had an exemplary record of lifetime achievement both academically and in hobbies and pursuits he has been involved in.
- They fly their Hawk 100 jets at hundreds of miles an hour as low as 300 ft, yet their safety record is exemplary.
- The steroid scandal is embarrassing baseball and its fans, leaving some players' achievements and their records very much in doubt.
Synonyms
previous conduct/performance, track record, previous achievements/accomplishments, career to date, history, past, life history, background;
reputation;
Latin curriculum vitae
2.1 short for criminal record.A higher proportion of them were under arrest or had previous records....
- In passing sentence the judge said that the appellant had an appalling record.
- Whenever you are arrested and booked, you officially have a record.
Synonyms
criminal record, police record, list of offences, list of previous convictions;
previous;
history of crime;
Military crime sheet
British informal form
North American informal rap sheet
3The best performance or most remarkable event of its kind: he held the world record for over a decade [as modifier]: record profits...
- He established new records in both these events.
- He broke both the British and European records in this event.
- Thompson has held world records in four different events, but she hasn't won an individual gold.
Synonyms
best performance, highest achievement, star performance;
best time, fastest time, furthest distance;
personal best;
world record
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...
- Consider the difference between distributing CDs and distributing cassette tapes or vinyl records.
- However, the truth is that over time, records and cassette tapes deteriorate and the quality of sound diminishes.
- On a plus side, it could also play records, cassette tapes, CDs, and even tune in to radio stations.
Synonyms
album;
vinyl;
tape, cassette, disc, compact disc, CD;
recording, release
dated gramophone record, LP, long-player, single, forty-five, twelve-inch (single), EP (extended-play)
seventy-eight, 78
British dated black disc
North American dated phonograph record
4.1A piece or collection of music reproduced on a record or on another medium: my favourite record...
- Too many contemporary film-makers prefer to use collections of pop records for theme music.
- I'm more used to the first approach, mainly because I think that's how you make the best records of classical music.
- Yes, this includes your favorite music, the records you cannot live or breathe without.
verb /rɪˈkɔːd / [with object]
/ [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...
- They also had the women keep a daily diary in which they recorded everything they ate.
- Use a food diary to record everything you eat and drink on a daily basis.
- The statistics show the region has the second highest level of overall crime recorded by the police.
Synonyms
write down, set down, put in writing, put down, take down, note, make a note of, jot down, put down on paper, commit to paper;
document, put on record, post;
enter, minute, register, chronicle, file, put on file, chart, docket, log;
inscribe, transcribe;
list, catalogue, make an inventory of
rare diarize
1.1State or set down publicly or officially: the coroner recorded a verdict of accidental death...
- The coroner records a verdict of death by misadventure.
- Bradford's Deputy Coroner Mark Hinchcliffe, recording his verdict yesterday, concluded no doctors were to blame.
- After hearing the results of the post-mortem carried out by consultant pathologist Dr William Keeley, the coroner recorded a verdict of accidental death.
1.2(Of an instrument or observer) show or register (a measurement or result): the temperature was the lowest recorded since 1926...
- These waves are recorded by instruments all over the world, allowing scientists to accurately measure distant quakes.
- Just as not all species were recorded by both methods, not all species were recorded by both observers.
- Numerous irregularities were recorded by observers in these areas during the elections.
Synonyms
indicate, register, read, show, display
1.3Achieve (a certain score or result): they recorded their first win of the season...
- Ireland's Derek Burnett made the best possible start when he recorded the perfect score in the first round.
- Competing in his first ever octathlon, he recorded a fine score of 4,019 points for an individual seventh place.
- Duffey came third last year in a valiant attempt to topple De Beer, who recorded a hat-trick of victories.
Synonyms
achieve, accomplish, gain, earn, chalk up, notch up, turn in
informal clock up
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...
- I have been trying to find a good freeware program to record my audio tapes using my computer.
- Others have the inputs for recording audio from external devices like cassette players.
- The debate was being recorded on audio tape and chaired by one of my housemates.
Synonyms
make a record/recording of, tape, tape-record;
video-record, videotape, video, audiotape;
telerecord
make, produce, cut, put on disc/tape
informal lay down, put on wax
2.1Produce (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...
- Suddenly you have the ability to listen to almost any piece of music ever recorded whenever you like. This is a million times better than just having a few CDs.
- Tzadik has done a typically great job of recognizing and recording an undervalued piece of music.
- Lots of the music on the compilation was recorded specifically for the album, and all of it will be new material.
Phrases
for the record
a matter of record
off the record
on record
put (or set) the record straight
Derivatives
recordable
/ adjective ...- Unfortunately, after it was completed, I realised that the recording sounded dreadful, and that I definitely need a recordable CD.
- As with recordable blank CDs and DVDs, the manufacturers will make the products but accept no liability for what you might do with them.
- Even so, with care, those recordable CDs should easily last 50 years.
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'.