count noun

American  

[kount noun] / ˈkaʊnt ˌnaʊn /

noun

Grammar.

1. a noun, as apple, table, or birthday, that typically refers to a countable thing and that in English can be used in both the singular and the plural and can be preceded by the indefinite article a or an or by a number. For example, we can say an apple, four tables, or my 18th birthday.

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count noun British  

noun

1. linguistics logic a noun that can be qualified by the indefinite article, and may be used in the plural, as telephone and thing but not airs and graces or bravery Compare mass noun sortal

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Etymology

Origin of count noun

First recorded in 1950–55

Example Sentences

"Less" is perfectly natural with a singular count noun, as in "one less car" and "one less thing to worry about".

From The Guardian • Aug. 15, 2014

Because a count noun cannot stand on its own—you can’t say Daughter cooked dinner— and a modifier doesn’t help; Beautiful daughter cooked dinner is still bad.

From "The Sense of Style" by Steven Pinker