1 [kount]
verb (used with object)
to reckon up; calculate; compute.
to reckon to the credit of another; ascribe; impute.
verb (used without object)
to reckon numerically.
to have a specified numerical value.
to have worth; amount (usually followed by for ): Intelligence counts for something.
an accounting.
Law. a distinct charge or theory of action in a declaration or indictment: He was found guilty on two counts of theft.
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.
Archaic. regard; notice.
Verb phrases
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.
count coup. coup1 ( def 4 ).

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

half-counted, adjective Unabridged


2 [kount]

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


William ("Count") 1904–84, U.S. jazz pianist, bandleader, and composer. Unabridged
Cite This Source Link To Count
World English Dictionary
Basie (ˈbeɪsɪ)
William, known as Count Basie. 1904--84, US jazz pianist, bandleader, and composer: associated particularly with the polished phrasing and style of big-band jazz

count1 (kaʊnt)
vb (often foll by in) (often foll by for)
1.  to add up or check (each unit in a collection) in order to ascertain the sum; enumerate: count your change
2.  (tr) to recite numbers in ascending order up to and including
3.  to take into account or include: we must count him in
4.  not counting excluding
5.  (tr) to believe to be; consider; think; deem: count yourself lucky
6.  (intr) to recite or list numbers in ascending order either in units or groups: to count in tens
7.  (intr) to have value, importance, or influence: this picture counts as a rarity
8.  to have a certain specified value or importance: the job counts for a lot
9.  (intr) music to keep time by counting beats
10.  the act of counting or reckoning
11.  the number reached by counting; sum
12.  law a paragraph in an indictment containing a distinct and separate charge
13.  physics the total number of photons or ionized particles detected by a counter
14.  keep count to keep a record of items, events, etc
15.  lose count to fail to keep an accurate record of items, events, etc
16.  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
17.  boxing out for the count knocked out and unable to continue after a count of ten by the referee
18.  boxing take the count to be unable to continue after a count of ten
19.  archaic notice; regard; account
[C14: from Anglo-French counter, from Old French conter, from Latin computāre to calculate, compute]

count2 (kaʊnt)
1.  a nobleman in any of various European countries having a rank corresponding to that of a British earl
2.  any of various officials in the late Roman Empire and under various Germanic kings in the early Middle Ages
3.  a man who has received an honour (papal knighthood) from the Pope in recognition of good deeds, achievements, etc
[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 10th Edition
Cite This Source
Word Origin & History

mid-14c., from O.Fr. conter "add up," but also "tell a story," from L. computare (see compute).

"title of nobility," mid-13c., from O.Fr. conte, from L. comitem (nom. comes) "companion, attendant," the Roman term for a provincial governor, from com- "with" + ire "go." The Anglo-Norm. term was used to render O.E. eorl, but the word was never truly naturalized and was mainly used with reference to
foreign titles.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
American Heritage
Medical Dictionary

count (kount)
v. count·ed, count·ing, counts

  1. The act of counting or calculating.

  2. The totality of specific items in a particular sample.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Cite This Source
American Heritage
Idioms & Phrases


In addition to the idioms beginning with count, also see down for the count; every minute counts; out for (the count); stand up and be counted.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
Cite This Source
Example sentences
But this number does not include a reliable count of plants from tropical regions, where the majority of the world's plants grow.
Some references also include in the fatality count those who died from non-construction related causes.
Legally that's not supposed to occur, so clients should count the number of porters throughout the trip.
Copyright © 2014, LLC. All rights reserved.
  • Please Login or Sign Up to use the Recent Searches feature