Main Entry:

count·down

Pronunciation:

\ˈkau̇nt-ˌdau̇n\

Function:

noun

Date:

circa 1952

: an audible backward counting in fixed units (as seconds) from an arbitrary starting number to mark the time remaining before an event ; also : preparations carried on during such a count

— count down \-ˈdau̇n\ intransitive verb