record

1 noun

1 INFORMATION (C) information about an event or series of events that is written down or stored on computer, film etc so that it can be looked at in the future: medical records

(+ of): records of births, marriages, and deaths | keep a record (=write down details of things as they happen): Keep a record of any money you pay out. | the biggest/lowest/highest etc on record (=the biggest etc that has ever been recorded): Today saw some of the hottest temperatures on record. | place/put sth on record (=include something in the official records): I ask the court to place on record the fact that my client co-operated with the police.

2 HIGHEST/BEST EVER (C) the fastest speed, longest distance, highest or lowest level etc that has ever been reached, especially in sport: break a record (=do something faster, better etc than the previous record): Kenoco Oil's half-yearly profits broke all records. | hold a record (=be the person who has achieved the fastest speed, the greatest distance etc) | set a record (=achieve a new record): The Americans set a new world record in the sprint relay. | record level/figure/sales etc (=the highest level etc that has ever been reached): a record level of unemployment | an all-time record (=the best that has ever been achieved)

3 MUSIC a round flat piece of plastic with a hole in the middle that music and sound is stored on: the disc jockey who plays your favourite records

4 SB'S PAST BEHAVIOUR (singular) the known facts about someone's past behaviour and how successful, good, or bad they have been: Laporte's service record in Indochina | good/bad record: The country has a fairly good record on human rights. | sb's record on: Senator Donegan asked the President to justify his record on welfare. | criminal record (=a list made by the police of someone's crimes): He'll never get a job if they find out about his criminal record. | sb's track record (=how successful someone has been up to now): The company has a good track record in the export trade.

5 off the record (C) if what you are telling someone is off the record, it is unofficial: I'd like to emphasize that anything said here is strictly off the record.

6 be/go on record as saying to be known to have said something publicly or officially: She's on record as saying she thinks men and women should live separate lives.

7 for the record spoken used to mean that you want people to remember what you are now saying: Let me just state for the record, that until yesterday my client had never seen Mr Rigati before.

8 put/set the record straight to tell people the truth about something, because you want to make it very clear that what they believe is not true: The director gave an interview to the newspapers to set the record straight.

2 verb

1 (T) to write information down or store it in a computer or on film so that it can be looked at in the future: The expedition recorded over new species of plants. | Make sure you record the numbers of tickets you sell. | record that: An official report records that at least half the nation's monuments are in need of repair.

2 (I, T) to store music, sound, television programmes etc on tape or discs so that people can listen to them or watch them again: Are you going to record tonight's concert? | The group has just recorded a new album. | Is the machine still recording? | recording their conversation

3 (T) if an instrument records the size, speed, temperature etc of something, it measures it and keeps that information: Wind speeds of up to 100 kph have been recorded.