Definition of "report" in English

verb

1. (transitive, intransitive) To relate details of (an event or incident); to recount, describe (something).

2. (transitive) To repeat (something one has heard), to retell; to pass on, convey (a message, information etc.).

3. (obsolete, reflexive) To take oneself (to someone or something) for guidance or support; to appeal.

4. (formal, transitive) To notify someone of (particular intelligence, suspicions, illegality, misconduct etc.); to make notification to relevant authorities; to submit a formal report of.

   • For insurance reasons, I had to report the theft to the local police station.

5. (transitive) To make a formal statement, especially of complaint, about (someone).

   • If you do that again I'll report you to the boss.

6. (intransitive) To show up or appear at an appointed time; to present oneself.

7. (ambitransitive) To write news reports (for); to cover as a journalist or reporter.

   • Andrew Marr reports now on more in-fighting at Westminster.
   • Every newspaper reported the war.
   • In January, the country’s weather agency sent aircraft to release chemicals into clouds over the Yellow Sea, South Korea’s Yonhap news agency reported.

8. (intransitive) To be accountable to or subordinate to (someone) in a hierarchy; to receive orders from (someone); to give official updates to (someone who is above oneself in a hierarchy).

   • The financial director reports to the CEO.
   • Now that I've been promoted, I report to Benjamin, whom I loathe.

9. (politics, dated) To return or present as the result of an examination or consideration of any matter officially referred.

   • The committee reported the bill with amendments, or reported a new bill, or reported the results of an inquiry.

10. To take minutes of (a speech, the doings of a public body, etc.); to write down from the lips of a speaker.

11. (obsolete) To refer.

12. (ambitransitive, obsolete, rare) To return or repeat, as sound; to echo.

13. (nautical) Of a ship, to return to a port.

    • Our ship leaves port on Monday and will re-port on Friday.

noun

1. A piece of information describing, or an account of certain events given or presented to someone, with the most common adpositions being by (referring to creator of the report) and on (referring to the subject).

   • A report by the telecommunications ministry on the phone network revealed a severe capacity problem.