story

n.

1. Imaginative writing

   write-up, fable, narrative, tale, myth, fairy tale, anecdote, legend, account, recital, memoir, parable, apologue, fiction, novel, romance, allegory, epic, saga, fantasy, edda; see also literature 1.

   Kinds of stories include --- Long: novel, romance, love story, realistic novel, detective, horror, adventure, comedy of manners, historical novel, biographical fiction, novelette, satire, saga, heroic poem, epic, mythological account, narrative, chronicle, chanson de geste (French); Short: jest, Märchen (German), folktale, fairy tale, apologue, canard, sketch, fantasy, anecdote, short story, novella, ghost story, example, exemplum (Latin), fable, conte devot (French), saint's life, legend, beast tale, primitive tale, idyll, pastoral, parable, fable, allegory, short short*, western*, pulp*, bodice-ripper*, techno-thriller*, whodunit*.

2. *A lie

   fib*, falsehood*, fabrication.

story, the broadest in scope of these words, refers to a series of connected events, true or fictitious, that is written or told with the intention of entertaining or informing; narrative is a more formal word, referring to the kind of prose that recounts happenings; tale, a somewhat elevated or literary term, usually suggests a simple, leisurely story, often somewhat loosely organized, especially a fictitious or legendary one; anecdote applies to a short, entertaining account of a single incident, usually personal or biographical