book
noun
uk/bʊk/ us [ C ]
a set of pages in a cover that you read or write in:
book about/on sth She is author of three books about criminal procedure.
The company publishes an extensive range of books.
children's/reference/self-help books
an address book
books [ plural ]
ACCOUNTING
the written records of money that a business has spent or received:
At the end of the year, the accountant goes over the books.
John kept the books and helped her run her business.
See also
appointment book
bankbook
the Beige Book
the Blue Book
cash received book
duplicate book
log book
minute book
order book
paying-in book
plat book
purchase book
rule book
sales day book
sales returns book
statutory book
go by the book (also do sth by the book)
to do something exactly as the rules tells you:
My lawyer always goes strictly by the book.
This is a private deal - we don't have to do everything by the book.
on the books
employed by a company or officially belonging to an organization:
There are 256 people on the books at the cement works.
Carla is on the books of a modelling agency.
book
verb
uk/bʊk/ us [ I or T ] mainly UK
to arrange a place on a flight, a room in a hotel, a ticket for an event, etc. for a particular time in the future:
Because tickets are limited, you have to book early.
book a flight/holiday/show When he tried to book a flight home to Australia, his credit card was refused.
book a table/room/seat.
book an appointment/meeting If you want to see Ms. Smith you'll have to book an appointment.
book sth for sth It's the day we have provisionally booked for the launch of the new media website.
See also
reserve
[ T ] ACCOUNTING
to make a record of something in a company's accounts:
The loss would have been much larger had they not booked an £8m profit from property sales.
book sth in sth Jarvis expects to be able to book some or all of that figure in the current year's accounts.
Phrasal verbs
book in/into sth
book someone in/book someone into something