record
- 01 A2 Elementary
n.a written or digital account of facts or events kept for the future.
n.a formal or official account of facts, events, or transactions preserved in a permanent medium.
Simple“The hospital keeps a detailed record of every patient's medical history.”
In context“The historical society maintains a meticulous record of all property transactions in the district dating back to the nineteenth century.”
UsageOften used with the verbs 'keep', 'maintain', or 'set'.
- 02 A2 Elementary
n.the best, fastest, or highest result ever reached in a sport or activity.
n.the most extreme known value of a variable, particularly regarding achievement in competitive events.
Simple“She ran the race so fast that she broke the world record.”
In context“The athlete's performance was unprecedented, shattering a world record that had stood for over a decade.”
UsageCommonly used with 'break', 'set', or 'hold'.
- 03 A2 Elementary
n.a large black plastic disc that plays music.
n.a thin plastic disc, typically vinyl, carrying recorded sound in a continuous groove.
Simple“My grandfather has a large collection of old jazz records in the attic.”
In context“Despite the dominance of digital streaming, many audiophiles still prefer the warm, tactile experience of playing a vinyl record.”
- 04 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.a single set of information in a database or computer list.
n.a collection of related data items treated as a single unit within a database or file.
Simple“Each record in the database contains a customer's name and address.”
In context“The software failed to update the specific record because of a conflict in the primary key field.”
- 05 A2 Elementary
v.to store sound, music, or moving pictures using electronic equipment.
v.to convert sound or visual images into a permanent form for subsequent reproduction.
Simple“The band went into the studio to record their new album.”
In context“Security cameras are positioned to record any activity near the main entrance during non-business hours.”
UsageThe verb is transitive and requires an object.
- 06 B1 Intermediate
v.to write down or store information so it can be looked at later.
v.to register or set down in writing or other permanent form for the purpose of preservation.
Simple“Please record your daily expenses in this notebook.”
In context“The researchers were instructed to record every observation, no matter how insignificant it might initially appear.”
- 07 B2 Upper Intermediate
adj.higher or better than anything that has happened before.
adj.surpassing all previous levels or achievements; used attributively.
Simple“The company reported record profits for the third year in a row.”
In context“The region experienced record temperatures this summer, leading to widespread concerns about the local water supply.”
UsageAlways placed before the noun it modifies.
Synonyms
Usage record number · records began · record high
From Middle English recorde, borrowed from Old French record, from recorder. See record.
From Middle English recorden (“to repeat, to report”), borrowed from Old French recorder (“to get by heart”), from Latin recordārī (“remember, call to mind”), from re- (“back, again”) + cor (“heart; mind”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.