count1

verb

• 1 [with object] determine the total number of (a collection of items):I started to count the stars I could see they counted up their change
• [no object] recite numbers in ascending order, usually starting at the number one:hold the position as you count to five
• [no object] (count down) recite or display numbers backward to zero to indicate the time remaining before the launch of a rocket or the start of an operation:the floor manager pointed at the camera and counted down
• [no object] (count down) prepare for a significant event in the short time remaining before it:with more orders expected, the company is counting down to a bumper Christmas

• 2 [with object] take into account; include:the staff has shrunk to four, or five if you count the summer intern
• (count someone in) include someone in an activity or the plans for it:if the project gets started, count me in
• consider (someone or something) to possess a specified quality or fulfill a specified role:she met some rebuffs from people she had counted as her friends [with object and complement]:I count myself fortunate to have known him
• [no object] be regarded as possessing a specified quality or fulfilling a specified role:the rebate counts as taxable income

• 3 [no object] be significant:it did not matter what the audience thought—it was the critics that counted
• (of a factor) play a part in influencing opinion for or against someone or something:he hopes his sportsmanlike attitude will count in his favor
• (count for) be worth (a specified amount):he has no power base and his views count for little
• (count toward) be included in an assessment of (a final result or amount):reduced rate contributions do not count toward your pension
• (count on/upon) rely on:whatever you’re doing, you can count on me

noun

• 1an act of determining the total number of something:at the last count, fifteen applications were still outstanding the party’s only candidate was eliminated at the first count
• the total determined by counting:there was a moderate increase in the white cell count in both patients

• 2an act of reciting numbers in ascending order, up to the specified number:hold the position for five counts hold it for a count of seven
• Boxing an act of reciting numbers up to ten by the referee when a boxer is knocked down, the boxer being considered knocked out if still down when ten is reached.
• Baseball the number of balls and strikes that have been charged to the batter, as recalculated with each pitch:the count on Gwynn is 1 ball and 2 strikes

• 3a point for discussion or consideration:the program remained vulnerable on a number of counts
• Law a separate charge in an indictment:he pleaded guilty to five counts of murder

• 4the measure of the fineness of a yarn expressed as the weight of a given length or the length of a given weight.
• a measure of the fineness of a woven fabric expressed as the number of warp or weft threads in a given length.