See Also: Discount(finance)
discount(2)(dictionary)
discount(1)(dictionary)
Discount(money)
Discount payment(finance)
Discount period(finance)
Discount rate(finance)
Discount securities(finance)
Discount interest(finance)
Discount factor(finance)

discount(1) (iou)



discount noun. E17.
[French descompte (earlier desconte, now decompte), from descompter: see DISCOUNT verb.]
gen. A reduction in the amount or in the gross value of something. E17-L18.
spec. A deduction (usu. a certain percentage) made from an amount due or a price in return for prompt or early payment, or offered to special customers; any deduction made from a nominal value or price. L17.
a. The percentage (representing the interest on the payment) deducted from the face value of a bill of exchange or promissory note when it changes hands before the due date. L17.
b. Stock Exchange. The amount by which the price of a stock falls short of its issue price or the value of the assets it represents; gen. the amount by which an actual price falls short of a nominal one. E18.
The action or an act of discounting a bill, note, etc. M19.
Phrases: at a discount at less than the nominal value or price; fig. in low esteem: opp. at a premium. trade discount: see TRADE noun.
Attrib. & comb.: In the sense 'regularly offering goods at less than the standard price', as discount shop, discount store, etc. Special combs., as discount-broker a person who procures the discounting of bills of exchange, usu. by acting as intermediary; a dealer in bills; discount house (a) in Britain, a firm specializing in buying and selling bills of exchange; (b) (chiefly US) a discount shop (see above).