Englishfor English speakers
expense
Noun
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An expense is something for which you spend money.
Food is a huge expense for many people around the world.
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An expense is an amount of money that you spend.
If your income is less than your expenses, you have a serious problem.
The company paid all of his expenses when he was in Shanghai.
The building was repaired at great expense.
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If you do mathx/math at the expense of mathy/math, mathx/math hurts mathy/math because it makes mathy/math have less money, less time, less social status, etc.
She often makes jokes at her own expense.
We have to decide whether safety at the expense of freedom is worth the cost.
account
Noun
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An account is an arrangement with a bank or other company to do business.
I opened a bank account when I moved into town.
The internet company cancelled my e-mail account.
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The records of the money that is paid or received. (often plural)
The accounts show that your bill has already been paid.
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A description of events
The account that he gave didn't match the story that was in the newspaper.
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If you take something into account, you think about it when you decide something.
Effective leaders have to take account of everyone's feelings.
account
Verb
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If mathx/math accounts for mathy/math, it explains why mathy/math happens or exists.
Oh, she was sick. Well, that accounts for her poor test score.