Etymology

From , from , from . Compare and .

Noun

1. An account of real or fictional events.

   The book tells the story of two roommates.

2. A lie.

   You’ve been telling stories again, haven’t you?

3. A floor or level of a building (mainly US - see storey).

   Our shop was on the fourth story of the building — we had to install an elevator.

4. A soap opera.

   What will she do without being able to watch her stories?

Usage notes

Popularized in the 1950s, when soap operas were often billed as "continuing stories," the term "story" to describe a soap opera fell into disuse by the 21st century and is now used chiefly among older people and in rural areas. Other English-speaking countries used the term at its zenith as a "loaned" word from the United States.

Synonyms

tome See lie floor, level soap opera, serial