- 1[usually singular] an act of counting to find the total number of something; the total number that you find The bus driver did a quick count of the empty seats. If the election result is close, there will be a second count. The body count (= the total number of people who have died) stands at 24. see headcount
Want to learn more?
Find out which words work together and produce more natural sounding English with the Oxford Collocations Dictionary app.
saying numbers - 2[usually singular] an act of saying numbers in order beginning with 1 Raise your leg and hold for a count of ten. He was knocked to the ground and stayed down for a count of eight (= in boxing). On the count of three, take one step forward.
- 3[usually singular] (technology) a measurement of the amount of something contained in a particular substance or area a raised white blood cell count see blood count, pollen count crime
- 4(law) a crime that someone is accused of committing They were found guilty on all counts. She appeared in court on three counts of fraud. in discussion/argument
- 5[usually plural] a point made during a discussion or an argument I disagree with you on both counts. rank/title
- 6(in some European countries) a nobleman of high rank, similar to an earl in Britain Count Tolstoy see countess Idioms
- 1(of a boxer) unable to get up again within ten seconds after being knocked down
- 2in a deep sleep
total
according to the latest information about the numbers of something She'd applied for 30 jobs at the last count.
to remember or keep a record of numbers or amounts of something over a period of time Keep a count of your calorie intake for one week.
to forget the total of something before you have finished counting it I lost count and had to start again. She had lost count of the number of times she'd told him to be careful (= she could not remember because there were so many).
Check pronunciation: count