A record is information that's written down and kept: medical records, keep a record. The meaning “best result” exists too: a world record. But a time booked to see a doctor or hairdresser is an appointment, not a record.
record: will you get the meaning right?
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keep a record of + noun; medical/school records; break/set a record; record (verb) + a video/song
- The doctor looked through my medical records before she prescribed anything.
- I keep a record of every new word I learn in a small notebook.
- Our team broke the club record for the most goals in one season.
What changed
First versionI've got a record at the dentist's on Friday.
RevisionI've got an appointment at the dentist's on Friday.
A doctor's visit gets written into a schedule, so record may seem to fit. But a record is a document or a log of information. An arranged time for a visit is an appointment. The article changed along with the word: an before a vowel sound.
The noun and the verb are stressed differently: a record or a world record is [ˈrekɔːd], and to record is [rɪˈkɔːd]. She recorded a short video for her grandmother. A record is also a vinyl disc: My dad still plays his old records.
Your turn
I can't come to the meeting at ten because I've got a doctor's ___.
Show the answer
appointment — The person can't come to the meeting because they have a booked visit to the doctor, which is an appointment. A doctor's record is a medical document, and it's no reason to miss a meeting.
Describe how you track your progress in your studies or in sport. Say what exactly you write down and where.
I keep a record of my running times in an app, so I can see how much faster I'm getting.
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