The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Annals \An"nals\, n. pl. [L. annalis (sc. liber), and more
   frequently in the pl. annales (sc. libri), chronicles, fr.
   annus year. Cf. Annual.]
   1. A relation of events in chronological order, each event
      being recorded under the year in which it happened.
      "Annals the revolution." --Macaulay. "The annals of our
      religion." --Rogers.
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   2. Historical records; chronicles; history.
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            The short and simple annals of the poor. --Gray.
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            It was one of the most critical periods in our
            annals.                               --Burke.
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   3. sing. The record of a single event or item. "In deathless
      annal." --Young.
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   4. A periodic publication, containing records of discoveries,
      transactions of societies, etc.; as "Annals of Science."
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   Syn: History. See History.
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WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

annals
    n 1: reports of the work of a society or learned body etc
    2: a chronological account of events in successive years [syn:
       annals, chronological record]