asset

UK: /ˈæsɛt/ US: /ˈæsɛt/ ,(as′et)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

as•set /ˈæsɛt/   n. [countable]

1. a useful and desirable thing or quality:
   math skill is an asset in business.
2. assets, [plural]
   • the total resources of a person or business.
   • the items listed on a balance sheet, esp. in relation to liabilities and capital.
   • Business all property available to pay debts.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

as•set  (as′et), n. 

1. a useful and desirable thing or quality:
   Organizational ability is an asset.
2. Business a single item of ownership having exchange value.
3. assets:
   • items of ownership convertible into cash;
     total resources of a person or business, as cash, notes and accounts receivable, securities, inventories, goodwill, fixtures, machinery, or real estate (opposed to liabilities).
   • [Accountableing.] the items detailed on a balance sheet, esp. in relation to liabilities and capital.
   • Business all property available for the payment of debts, esp. of a bankrupt or insolvent firm or person.
   • Law property in the hands of an heir, executor, or administrator, that is sufficient to pay the debts or legacies of a deceased person.

• Anglo-French, Old French asez enough. See assai¹
• back formation from assets, in phrase have assets, literally, have enough (to pay obligations) 1525–35

as′set•less, adj. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

asset / ˈæsɛt/ noun

1. anything valuable or useful

Etymology: 19th Century: back formation from assets