count

play

verb \ ˈkau̇nt , dialectal ˈkyau̇nt \

Definition of count

transitive verb

1 a :to indicate or name by units or groups so as to find the total number of units involved :number

Count the pages of the manuscript.

b :to name the numbers in order up to and including

Count ten.

c :to include in a tallying and reckoning

about 100 present, counting children

d :to call aloud (beats or time units)

Count cadence.

Count the eighth notes.

2 a :consider, account

count oneself lucky

b :to record as of an opinion or persuasion

Count me as uncommitted.

3 :to include or exclude by or as if by counting

Count me in.

intransitive verb

1 a :to recite or indicate the numbers in order by units or groups

count by fives

b :to count the units in a group

She was interrupted while she was counting.

2 :to rely or depend on someone or something —used with on

He counted on his parents to help with the expenses.

3 :add, total

It counts up to a sizable amount.

4 a :to have value or significance

These are the people who really count.

His opinions don't count for much.

b :to deserve to be regarded or considered

a job so easy it hardly counts as work

— and counting

:with more to come

in business for 50 years and counting

— count heads or count noses

:to count the number present

— count on

:to look forward to as certain :anticipate

counted on winning

See count defined for English-language learners

See count defined for kids

Examples of count in a Sentence

Count the plates on the table.
She made sure to count her change.
Count how many fingers I am holding up.
He counted seven deer in the field.
There are 10 days left until the end of school, counting from today.
Keep counting until there are no more left to count.
Don't interrupt me. I'm counting.
Can your daughter count yet?
There will be 150 people at the wedding, not counting children.

Origin and Etymology of count

Middle English, from Anglo-French cunter, counter, from Latin computare, from com- + putare to consider

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

See Words from the same year

count Synonyms

Synonyms

enumerate, number, tell

Related Words

add (up), tally, total; calculate, compute, reckon, table, tabulate; check, mark, tick (off); recount

Near Antonyms

distrust, mistrust, question, suspect

count

noun

Definition of count

1 a :the action or process of counting

b :a total obtained by counting :tally

2 archaic

a :reckoning, account

b :consideration, estimation

3 a :allegation, charge; specifically :one separately stating the cause of action or prosecution in a legal declaration or indictment

guilty on all counts

b :a specific point under consideration :issue

disagreeing on this count

4 :the total number of individual things in a given unit or sample obtained by counting all or a subsample of them

bacteria count

5 a :the calling off of the seconds from one to ten when a boxer has been knocked down

He took a count of nine before getting up.

b :the number of balls and strikes charged to a baseball batter during one turn

The count stood at 3 and 2.

c :score

tied the count with a minute to play

6 a :a measurement of the thickness or fineness of yarn by determining the number of hanks or yards per pound it produces

b :the number of threads per square inch in a cloth

Origin and Etymology of count

see ¹count

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

See Words from the same year

Other Mathematics and Statistics Terms

abscissa, denominator, divisor, equilateral, exponent, hypotenuse, logarithm, oblique, radii, rhomb

count

noun

Definition of count

:a European nobleman whose rank corresponds to that of a British earl

Origin and Etymology of count

Middle English, from Anglo-French cunte, from Late Latin comit-, comes, from Latin, companion, one of the imperial court, from com- + ire to go — more at issue

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 15th century

See Words from the same year

Other Foreign Functionary Terms

despot, emir, wardrobe, yeoman

COUNT Defined for English Language Learners

count

play

verb

Definition of count for English Language Learners

: to add (people or things) together to find the total number
: to say numbers in order
: to include (someone or something) in a total

COUNT Defined for Kids

count

play

verb \ ˈkau̇nt \

Definition of count for Students

counted; counting

1 :to add one by one in order to find the total number

Count the apples in the box.

2 :to name the numbers one by one, by groups, or in order up to a particular point

Hide before I count ten.

Count to 100 by fives.

3 :to include in thinking about

Don't count Sunday as a work day.

4 :to have value, force, or importance

Every vote counts.

5 :to consider or judge to be

I count myself lucky.

— count on

1 :to rely or depend on (someone) to do something

I'm counting on you to help me out.

2 :to expect (something) to happen

I wouldn't count on the test being postponed.

count

noun

Definition of count for Students

1 :the act or process of naming numbers or adding one by one

2 :a total arrived at by adding

a vote count

3 :any one crime that a person is charged with

She is guilty on all counts.

count

noun

Definition of count for Students

:a European nobleman whose rank is like that of a British earl

Medical Dictionary

count

play

transitive verb \ ˈkau̇nt \

medical Definition of count

:to indicate or name by units or groups so as to find the total number of units involved

count

noun

medical Definition of count

1 a :the action or process of counting

b :a total obtained by counting

2 :the total number of individual things in a given unit or sample (as of blood) obtained by counting all or a subsample of them — see addis count, blood count, cell count, red blood count, white count