count
♦♦ count /k'aʊnt/ (counts counting counted)
1 [VERB] V, V to num
When you count, you say all the numbers one after another up to a particular number.
He was counting slowly under his breath...
Brian counted to twenty and lifted his binoculars.
2 [VERB] V n, V num, V-ed, also V
If you count all the things in a group, you add them up in order to find how many there are.
I counted the money. It was more than five hundred pounds...
I counted 34 wild goats grazing...
With more than 90 percent of the votes counted, the Liberals should win nearly a third of the seats.
[PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron), also V n P
Count up means the same as count.
Couldn't we just count up our ballots and bring them to the courthouse?
● counting [N-UNCOUNT] usu the N of n
The counting of votes is proceeding smoothly.
3 [N-COUNT] usu supp N
A count is the action of counting a particular set of things, or the number that you get when you have counted them.
The final count in last month's referendum showed 56.7 per cent in favour...
4 [N-COUNT] n N
You use count when referring to the level or amount of something that someone or something has.
A glass or two of wine will not significantly add to the calorie count...
see also blood count, pollen count
5 [N-SING] N of num
You use count in expressions such as a count of three or a count of ten when you are measuring a length of time by counting slowly up to a certain number.
Hold your breath for a count of five, then slowly breathe out...
6 [VERB] V, V for amount
If something or someone counts for something or counts, they are important or valuable.
Surely it doesn't matter where charities get their money from: what counts is what they do with it...
When I first came to college I realised that brainpower didn't count for much...
= matter
7 [VERB] V as n/-ing/adj, V, V n as n
If something counts or is counted as a particular thing, it is regarded as being that thing, especially in particular circumstances or under particular rules.
No one agrees on what counts as a desert...
Two of the trucks were stopped because they had tents in them, and under the commanders' definition of humanitarian aid, that didn't count...
They can count it as a success.
8 [VERB] V n, be V-ed as n, also V n as n
If you count something when you are making a calculation, you include it in that calculation.
It's under 7 percent only because statistics don't count the people who aren't qualified to be in the work force...
The years before their arrival in prison are not counted as part of their sentence.
= include
9 [N-COUNT] on supp N
You can use count to refer to one or more points that you are considering. For example, if someone is wrong on two counts, they are wrong in two ways.
`You drink Scotch,' she said. `All Republicans drink Scotch.'--`Wrong on both counts. I'm a Democrat, and I drink bourbon.'
10 [N-COUNT] usu N of n
In law, a count is one of a number of charges brought against someone in court.
He was indicted by a grand jury on two counts of murder.
11 [PHRASE] V inflects, oft PHR of n
If you keep count of a number of things, you note or keep a record of how many have occurred. If you lose count of a number of things, you cannot remember how many have occurred.
The authorities say they are not able to keep count of the bodies still being found as helicopters search the area...
She'd lost count of the interviews she'd been called for.
12 [PHRASE] v-link PHR
If someone is out for the count, they are unconscious or very deeply asleep. (INFORMAL)
13 [PHRASE]
If you say that someone should stand up and be counted, you mean that they should say publicly what they think, and not hide it or be ashamed of it.
Those involved and benefiting from the scandal must be prepared to stand up and be counted.
14
to count your blessings: see blessingblood count (blood counts)
[N-COUNT]
Your blood count is the number of red and white cells in your blood. A blood count can also refer to a medical examination which determines the number of red and white cells in your blood.
Her blood count was normal...
We do a blood count to ensure that all is well.count against
[PHRASAL VERB] V P n
If something counts against you, it may cause you to be rejected or punished, or cause people to have a lower opinion of you.
He is highly regarded, but his youth might count against him.count in
[PHRASAL VERB] usu imper, V n P
If you tell someone to count you in, you mean that you want to be included in an activity.
She shrugged. `You can count me in, I guess.'
≠ count outcount noun (count nouns)
[N-COUNT]
A count noun is a noun such as `bird', `chair', or `year' which has a singular and a plural form and is always used after a determiner in the singular.
= countable nouncount on
or count upon
1 [PHRASAL VERB] V P n/-ing
If you count on something or count upon it, you expect it to happen and include it in your plans.
The government thought it could count on the support of the trades unions...
2 [PHRASAL VERB] V P n, V P n to-inf
If you count on someone or count upon them, you rely on them to support you or help you.
Don't count on Lillian...
I can always count on you to cheer me up...count out
1 [PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron), also V n P
If you count out a sum of money, you count the notes or coins as you put them in a pile one by one.
Mr. Rohmbauer counted out the money and put it in an envelope.
2 [PHRASAL VERB] usu imper, V n P
If you tell someone to count you out, you mean that you do not want to be included in an activity.
If this is the standard to which I have to drop to gain membership, then count me out!
≠ count incount towards
[PHRASAL VERB] V P n
If something counts towards or counts toward an achievement or right, it is included as one of the things that give you the right to it. (in AM, usually use count toward)
In many courses, work from the second year onwards can count towards the final degree.count up
see count 2count upon
see count onhead count (head counts)
[N-COUNT]
If you do a head count, you count the number of people present. You can also use head count to talk about the number of people that are present at an event, or that an organization employs.pol|len count (pollen counts)
[N-COUNT]
The pollen count is a measure of how much pollen is in the air at a particular place and time. Information about the pollen count is given to help people who are made ill by pollen.
Avoid trips to the country while the pollen count is high.
1 [VERB] V, V to num
When you count, you say all the numbers one after another up to a particular number.
He was counting slowly under his breath...
Brian counted to twenty and lifted his binoculars.
2 [VERB] V n, V num, V-ed, also V
If you count all the things in a group, you add them up in order to find how many there are.
I counted the money. It was more than five hundred pounds...
I counted 34 wild goats grazing...
With more than 90 percent of the votes counted, the Liberals should win nearly a third of the seats.
[PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron), also V n P
Count up means the same as count.
Couldn't we just count up our ballots and bring them to the courthouse?
● counting [N-UNCOUNT] usu the N of n
The counting of votes is proceeding smoothly.
3 [N-COUNT] usu supp N
A count is the action of counting a particular set of things, or the number that you get when you have counted them.
The final count in last month's referendum showed 56.7 per cent in favour...
4 [N-COUNT] n N
You use count when referring to the level or amount of something that someone or something has.
A glass or two of wine will not significantly add to the calorie count...
see also blood count, pollen count
5 [N-SING] N of num
You use count in expressions such as a count of three or a count of ten when you are measuring a length of time by counting slowly up to a certain number.
Hold your breath for a count of five, then slowly breathe out...
6 [VERB] V, V for amount
If something or someone counts for something or counts, they are important or valuable.
Surely it doesn't matter where charities get their money from: what counts is what they do with it...
When I first came to college I realised that brainpower didn't count for much...
= matter
7 [VERB] V as n/-ing/adj, V, V n as n
If something counts or is counted as a particular thing, it is regarded as being that thing, especially in particular circumstances or under particular rules.
No one agrees on what counts as a desert...
Two of the trucks were stopped because they had tents in them, and under the commanders' definition of humanitarian aid, that didn't count...
They can count it as a success.
8 [VERB] V n, be V-ed as n, also V n as n
If you count something when you are making a calculation, you include it in that calculation.
It's under 7 percent only because statistics don't count the people who aren't qualified to be in the work force...
The years before their arrival in prison are not counted as part of their sentence.
= include
9 [N-COUNT] on supp N
You can use count to refer to one or more points that you are considering. For example, if someone is wrong on two counts, they are wrong in two ways.
`You drink Scotch,' she said. `All Republicans drink Scotch.'--`Wrong on both counts. I'm a Democrat, and I drink bourbon.'
10 [N-COUNT] usu N of n
In law, a count is one of a number of charges brought against someone in court.
He was indicted by a grand jury on two counts of murder.
11 [PHRASE] V inflects, oft PHR of n
If you keep count of a number of things, you note or keep a record of how many have occurred. If you lose count of a number of things, you cannot remember how many have occurred.
The authorities say they are not able to keep count of the bodies still being found as helicopters search the area...
She'd lost count of the interviews she'd been called for.
12 [PHRASE] v-link PHR
If someone is out for the count, they are unconscious or very deeply asleep. (INFORMAL)
13 [PHRASE]
If you say that someone should stand up and be counted, you mean that they should say publicly what they think, and not hide it or be ashamed of it.
Those involved and benefiting from the scandal must be prepared to stand up and be counted.
14
to count your blessings: see blessingblood count (blood counts)
[N-COUNT]
Your blood count is the number of red and white cells in your blood. A blood count can also refer to a medical examination which determines the number of red and white cells in your blood.
Her blood count was normal...
We do a blood count to ensure that all is well.count against
[PHRASAL VERB] V P n
If something counts against you, it may cause you to be rejected or punished, or cause people to have a lower opinion of you.
He is highly regarded, but his youth might count against him.count in
[PHRASAL VERB] usu imper, V n P
If you tell someone to count you in, you mean that you want to be included in an activity.
She shrugged. `You can count me in, I guess.'
≠ count outcount noun (count nouns)
[N-COUNT]
A count noun is a noun such as `bird', `chair', or `year' which has a singular and a plural form and is always used after a determiner in the singular.
= countable nouncount on
or count upon
1 [PHRASAL VERB] V P n/-ing
If you count on something or count upon it, you expect it to happen and include it in your plans.
The government thought it could count on the support of the trades unions...
2 [PHRASAL VERB] V P n, V P n to-inf
If you count on someone or count upon them, you rely on them to support you or help you.
Don't count on Lillian...
I can always count on you to cheer me up...count out
1 [PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron), also V n P
If you count out a sum of money, you count the notes or coins as you put them in a pile one by one.
Mr. Rohmbauer counted out the money and put it in an envelope.
2 [PHRASAL VERB] usu imper, V n P
If you tell someone to count you out, you mean that you do not want to be included in an activity.
If this is the standard to which I have to drop to gain membership, then count me out!
≠ count incount towards
[PHRASAL VERB] V P n
If something counts towards or counts toward an achievement or right, it is included as one of the things that give you the right to it. (in AM, usually use count toward)
In many courses, work from the second year onwards can count towards the final degree.count up
see count 2count upon
see count onhead count (head counts)
[N-COUNT]
If you do a head count, you count the number of people present. You can also use head count to talk about the number of people that are present at an event, or that an organization employs.pol|len count (pollen counts)
[N-COUNT]
The pollen count is a measure of how much pollen is in the air at a particular place and time. Information about the pollen count is given to help people who are made ill by pollen.
Avoid trips to the country while the pollen count is high.