count

[ kount ]

/ kaʊnt /

verb (used with object)

to check over (the separate units or groups of a collection) one by one to determine the total number; add up; enumerate: He counted his tickets and found he had ten.

to reckon up; calculate; compute.

to list or name the numerals up to: Close your eyes and count ten.

to include in a reckoning; take into account: There are five of us here, counting me.

to reckon to the credit of another; ascribe; impute.

to consider or regard: He counted himself lucky to have survived the crash.

verb (used without object)

to count the items of a collection one by one in order to determine the total: She counted three times before she was satisfied that none was missing.

to list or name numerals in order: to count to 100 by fives.

to reckon numerically.

to have a specified numerical value.

to be accounted or worth something: That first try didn't count—I was just practicing.

to have merit, importance, value, etc.; deserve consideration: Every bit of help counts.

to have worth; amount (usually followed by for): Intelligence counts for something.

noun

the act of counting; enumeration; reckoning; calculation: A count of hands showed 23 in favor and 16 opposed.

the number representing the result of a process of counting; the total number.

an accounting.

Baseball. the number of balls and strikes, usually designated in that order, that have been called on a batter during a turn at bat: a count of two balls and one strike.

Law. a distinct charge or theory of action in a declaration or indictment: He was found guilty on two counts of theft.

Textiles.

a number representing the size or quality of yarn, especially the number based on the relation of weight to length of the yarn and indicating its degree of coarseness.
the number of warp and filling threads per square inch in woven material, representing the texture of the fabric.

Bowling. the number of pins struck down by the first ball rolled by a bowler in the frame following a spare and included in the score for the frame in which the spare was made.

Physics.

a single ionizing reaction registered by an ionization chamber, as in a Geiger counter.
the indication of the total number of ionizing reactions registered by an ionization chamber in a given period of time.

Archaic. regard; notice.

the count, Boxing. the calling aloud by the referee of the seconds from 1 to 10 while a downed boxer remains off his feet. Completion of the count signifies a knockout, which the referee then declares: A hard right sent the challenger down for the count.Also called the full count.

adjective

noting a number of items determined by an actual count: The box is labeled 50 count.

Verb Phrases

count down, to count backward, usually by ones, from a given integer to zero.

count in, to include: If you're going to the beach, count me in.

count off, (often used imperatively, as in the army) to count aloud by turns, as to arrange positions within a group of persons; divide or become divided into groups: Close up ranks and count off from the left by threes.

count on/upon, to depend or rely on: You can always count on him to lend you money.

count out,

Boxing. to declare (a boxer) a loser because of inability to stand up before the referee has counted 10 seconds.
to exclude: When it comes to mountain climbing, count me out.
to count and apportion or give out: She counted out four cookies to each child.
to disqualify (ballots) illegally in counting, in order to control the election.

Nearby words

counseling, counselling, counsellor, counselor, counselor-at-law, count, count against, count down, count for, count in, count noses

Idioms

count coup. coup¹(def 4).

Origin of count

1275–1325; (v.) Middle English counten < Anglo-French c(o)unter, Old French conter < Latin computāre to compute; (noun) Middle English counte < Anglo-French c(o)unte, Old French conte < Late Latin computus calculation, reckoning, noun derivative of computāre

Related forms

half-count·ed, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

British Dictionary definitions for count down (1 of 2)

count

/ (kaʊnt) /

verb

to add up or check (each unit in a collection) in order to ascertain the sum; enumeratecount your change

(tr) to recite numbers in ascending order up to and including

(tr often foll by in) to take into account or includewe must count him in

not counting excluding

(tr) to believe to be; consider; think; deemcount yourself lucky

(intr) to recite or list numbers in ascending order either in units or groupsto count in tens

(intr) to have value, importance, or influencethis picture counts as a rarity

(intr often foll by for) to have a certain specified value or importancethe job counts for a lot

(intr) music to keep time by counting beats

noun

the act of counting or reckoning

the number reached by counting; sum

law a paragraph in an indictment containing a distinct and separate charge

physics the total number of photons or ionized particles detected by a counter

keep count to keep a record of items, events, etc

lose count to fail to keep an accurate record of items, events, etc

boxing wrestling the act of telling off a number of seconds by the referee, as when a boxer has been knocked down or a wrestler pinned by his opponent

out for the count boxing knocked out and unable to continue after a count of ten by the referee

take the count boxing to be unable to continue after a count of ten

archaic notice; regard; account

Word Origin for count

C14: from Anglo-French counter, from Old French conter, from Latin computāre to calculate, compute

British Dictionary definitions for count down (2 of 2)

count

/ (kaʊnt) /

noun

a nobleman in any of various European countries having a rank corresponding to that of a British earl

any of various officials in the late Roman Empire and under various Germanic kings in the early Middle Ages

a man who has received an honour (papal knighthood) from the Pope in recognition of good deeds, achievements, etc

Derived Forms

countship, noun

Word Origin for count

C16: from Old French conte, from Late Latin comes occupant of a state office, from Latin: overseer, associate, literally: one who goes with, from com- with + īre to go

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Medicine definitions for count down

count

[ kount ]

v.

To name or list the units of a group or collection one by one in order to determine a total.

n.

The act of counting or calculating.

The totality of specific items in a particular sample.

Idioms and Phrases with count down (1 of 2)

count down

Count backward from any number to zero to indicate time, as in The final seconds before take off were counted down: 10, 9, 8, etc. The down in this term refers to the decreasing size of the numbers. This usage originated in connection with the firing of missiles and spacecraft and has since been broadened to such events as the roll call of states at a political convention. [c. 1950]

Make final preparations for an event, as in Hong Kong was counting down to the day when it became part of mainland China. This usage is derived from def. 1. [Late 1950s]

Idioms and Phrases with count down (2 of 2)

count

In addition to the idioms beginning with count

count against
count down
count for
count in
count noses
count off
count on
count one's chickens before they hatch
count out
count to ten

also see:

down for the count
every minute counts
out for (the count)
stand up and be counted

count

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

noun

adjective

Verb Phrases

RELATED CONTENT

Nearby words

Idioms

Origin of count

Related forms

British Dictionary definitions for count down (1 of 2)

count

verb

noun

Word Origin for count

British Dictionary definitions for count down (2 of 2)

count

noun

Derived Forms

Word Origin for count

Medicine definitions for count down

count

v.

n.

Idioms and Phrases with count down (1 of 2)

count down

Idioms and Phrases with count down (2 of 2)

count