account for so or sth meaning

• [American slang]
  to know the state of or whereabouts of someone or something. (Usually in reference to some person or thing placed in one's charge.)
     They cannot account for three of the passengers.

• take account of so or sth:    [American slang]to ...
• take into account so or sth:    [American slang]Go ...
• take so or sth into account:    [American slang]to ...