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 / uponto 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.
Idioms for count
count coup. coup1 (def. 4).
Origin of count
1
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
(in some European countries) a nobleman equivalent in rank to an English earl.
Origin of count
2
1375–1425; late Middle English counte<Anglo-French c(o)unte,Old French conte, comte<Late Latin comitem, accusative of comes honorary title of various imperial functionaries, Latin: retainer, staff member, literally, companion; see comes
Before the pandemic struck, mail-in states such as California were already counting slowly.
Election live updates: Trump returns to Wisconsin; Biden to face live audience at town hall|Colby Itkowitz, Felicia Sonmez, John Wagner|September 17, 2020|Washington Post
The court declined to rule with the Democrats on requiring election workers to give voters a chance to fix deficient ballots or count ballots that arrive without a secret envelope.
Pennsylvania Supreme Court strikes Green Party presidential ticket from ballot, clearing the way for mail ballots to be sent out|Amy Gardner|September 17, 2020|Washington Post
There are a few important caveats to keep in mind when examining Europe’s surging coronavirus case count.
The new Covid-19 case surge in Europe, explained|Julia Belluz|September 17, 2020|Vox
They try to subvert the accuracy of census counts, and block the use of safe voting methods in the middle of a pandemic.
America needs a democratic revolution|Matthew Yglesias|September 17, 2020|Vox
California is one of those states, and if you show up without the one they sent you, you might have to fill out a provisional ballot, which will be counted once the election office confirms your eligibility and that you haven’t already voted.
Why you should vote as early as possible (and how to do it)|John Kennedy|September 17, 2020|Popular Science
I do not believe we have a current count of fugitives for publication, but will inquire.
Cuba Protects America’s Most Wanted|Michael Daly|December 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The ad would then count as a coordinated communication and would be subject to strict spending limits.
Just What We Needed: More Campaign Spending|Mark McKinnon|December 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The euphemism most commonly used by convicts for dying is to “be taken off the count.”
A Million Ways to Die in Prison|Daniel Genis|December 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The Cleveland Nine should count themselves lucky that they were returned to full duty after 16 months.
The Cleveland Cops Who Fired 137 Shots and Cried Victim|Michael Daly|December 2, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Even if you count the time I spent prepping for my original Jeopardy!
From Socially Isolated Nerd to Jeopardy! Bad Boy: A Thank You Note|Arthur Chu|November 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Differences with the managers had nothing to do with Count Rumfords departure from London.
The Royal Institution|Bence Jones
He's been ill so much and away so much—sometimes people like that just don't seem to 'count' in a family.
The Turmoil|Booth Tarkington
I daresay the Count has told you that he would not work any more for us, and you are anxious to arrange the matter?
A Cigarette-Maker's Romance|F. Marion Crawford
I do not see how the Count D'Orsay can fail to win your heart.
Adle Dubois|Mrs. William T. Savage
Well, there was no doubt that the Count was an uncommonly good fellow—for a Spaniard.
Lysbeth|H. Rider Haggard
British Dictionary definitions for count (1 of 2)
count1
/ (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 countingexcluding
(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)musicto keep time by counting beats
noun
the act of counting or reckoning
the number reached by counting; sum
lawa paragraph in an indictment containing a distinct and separate charge
physicsthe total number of photons or ionized particles detected by a counter
keep countto keep a record of items, events, etc
lose countto fail to keep an accurate record of items, events, etc
boxingwrestlingthe 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 countboxingknocked out and unable to continue after a count of ten by the referee
take the countboxingto be unable to continue after a count of ten
archaicnotice; regard; account
See also count against, countdown, count on, count out
Word Origin for count
C14: from Anglo-French counter, from Old French conter, from Latin computāre to calculate, compute
British Dictionary definitions for count (2 of 2)
count2
/ (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 of count
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