WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
n. the excess of revenues over outlays in a given period of time (including depreciation and other non-cash expenses)
n. something that remunerates
Word Usage
"CEO William Zollars also told analysts after the earnings release that an unusually harsh winter had driven up costs and created an earnings shortfall in January and early February that we had not initially planned."