DictionaryAI

record

ri-KORD/ɹɪˈkɔɹd/UKri-KAWD/ɹɪˈkɔːd/
As an adjectiveREK-urd

Verbrecords, recording, recorded

Noun pluralrecords

11 meanings of record

Practice

  1. 1
    verbtransitive
    To write down or store information so it can be used later, including entering it in an official register.

    Like writing something in a notebook so you do not forget it.

    Please record your answers on the form.

    The nurse recorded his temperature every hour.

    UsageSay the verb reCORD and the noun REcord.

    Similardocument, log, note, register, chronicle

    Note
  2. 2
    REK-urd/ˈɹɛk.ɚd/UKREK-awd/ˈɹɛk.ɔːd/
    nouncountable
    Written or stored information about facts or events, kept so people can look at it later.

    Like a notebook that holds facts so you can read them again later.

    Grandpa's old diary is a record of his years at sea.

    These ancient stone records survived for thousands of years.

    UsageSay keep a record of something.

    Similaraccount, register, log, document, chronicle

  3. 3
    REK-urd/ˈɹɛk.ɚd/UKREK-awd/ˈɹɛk.ɔːd/
    nouncountable
    A group of related pieces of data stored and handled as one unit.

    Like a card that holds all the facts about one person.

    Every customer has a record with their name and address.

    Each customer's name, address, and phone number are stored as one record in the database.

    Similarentry, row

    Note
  4. 4
    REK-urd/ˈɹɛk.ɚd/UKREK-awd/ˈɹɛk.ɔːd/
    mark to beatnouncountable
    The highest, lowest, or most extreme result reached so far, especially the best result in a sport or contest.

    Like the highest score on a game that everyone tries to beat.

    She broke the world record for the 100-meter sprint.

    No one has beaten that record in twenty years.

    UsageYou set or break a record.

    Similarbest

  5. 5
    verbintransitive
    To store sound or images so they can be played or watched later, or to be stored this way.

    Like a camera that keeps saving what it sees and hears.

    Hit the button and the camera will record.

    The microphone records automatically when someone speaks.

  6. 6
    REK-urd/ˈɹɛk.ɚd/UKREK-awd/ˈɹɛk.ɔːd/
    music albumnounabbreviationellipsis
    Short for phonograph record. It means a round disc that plays music.

    She put an old record on the turntable.

    My grandfather still plays that record every Sunday.

    Note
  7. 7
    never reached beforeadjectivebefore a noun
    Higher, lower, or more extreme than ever before, so that it sets a new record.

    Like getting the highest score your class has ever seen.

    The team had a record number of wins this year.

    Temperatures hit record highs last summer.

    UsageSay record highs or a record number of wins.

    Similarunprecedented, unparalleled, peak

    Note
  8. 8
    past historynouncountable
    The facts people know about how someone or something has acted or done in the past.

    This airline has a very good safety record.

    She got the job partly because of her clean driving record.

    Similarhistory

    Note

Less common meanings

  1. 9
    verbobsoletetransitive or intransitive
    To sing a tune, or to sing it again.
    They long’d to see the day, to heare the larke Record her hymnes and chant her carols blest,
    1600, Torquato Tasso, Godfrey of BulloigneHere, Record means to sing.
    1595, George Peele, The Old Wives’ Tale, The Malone Society Reprints, 1908, lines 741-742, Come Berecynthia, let vs in likewise, And heare the Nightingale record hir notes.
    Here, record means to sing.
    Note
  2. 10
    verbobsoletetransitive or intransitive
    To say or do something again and again in order to learn it.
    Note
  3. 11
    verbobsolete
    To think carefully about something, or reflect on it.
    Note

Practice

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Origins

Meanings 2–4, 6–8

From Middle English recorde, which came from Old French record, linked to the verb record.

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 3 facts

  • The English noun record comes from Middle English recorde. en.wiktionary.org
  • Middle English recorde came from Old French record. en.wiktionary.org
  • The noun is etymologically related to the English verb record, which also comes through Old French recorder. en.wiktionary.org
Meanings 1, 5, 9–11

From Old French recorder, meaning 'to learn by heart,' from Latin recordari 'to remember,' built from re- 'again' and cor 'heart, mind.'

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 4 facts