inventory Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a detailed list of all the items in stock
    stock list.
  2. noun the merchandise that a shop has on hand
    stock.
    • they carried a vast inventory of hardware
    • they stopped selling in exact sizes in order to reduce inventory
  3. noun (accounting) the value of a firm's current assets including raw materials and work in progress and finished goods
  4. noun a collection of resources
    armory; armoury.
    • he dipped into his intellectual armory to find an answer
  5. noun making an itemized list of merchandise or supplies on hand
    inventorying; stocktaking; stock-taking.
    • an inventory may be necessary to see if anything is missing
    • they held an inventory every month
  6. verb make or include in an itemized record or report
    stock-take; take stock.
    • Inventory all books before the end of the year

WordNet

In"ven*to*ry noun
Etymology
L. inventarium: cf. LL. inventorium, F. inventaire, OF. also inventoire. See Invent.
Wordforms
plural Inventories
Definitions
  1. An account, catalogue, or schedule, made by an executor or administrator, of all the goods and chattels, and sometimes of the real estate, of a deceased person; a list of the property of which a person or estate is found to be possessed; hence, an itemized list of goods or valuables, with their estimated worth; specifically, the annual account of stock taken in any business.
    There take an inventory of all I have. Shak.
    Syn. -- List; register; schedule; catalogue. See List.
In"ven*to*ry transitive verb
Etymology
Cf. F. inventorier.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Inventoried ; present participle & verbal noun Inventorying
Definitions
  1. To make an inventory of; to make a list, catalogue, or schedule of; to insert or register in an account of goods; as, a merchant inventories his stock.
    I will give out divers schedules of my beauty; it shall be inventoried, and every particle and utensil labeled. Shak.

Webster 1913