/euh mownt"/ , n.
1. the sum total of two or more quantities or sums; aggregate.
2. the sum of the principal and interest of a loan.
3. quantity; measure: a great amount of resistance.
4. the full effect, value, or significance.
v.i.
5. to total; add (usually fol. by to ): The repair bill amounts to $300.
6. to reach, extend, or be equal in number, quantity, effect, etc.; be equivalent (usually fol. by to ): It is stated differently but amounts to the same thing.
7. to develop into; become (usually fol. by to ): With his intelligence, he should amount to something when he grows up.
[ 1250-1300; ME amounten, amunten amo ( u ) nter, amunter, OF amonter lit., to go up, ascend, prob. a- A- 5 + monter (see MOUNT 1 ); E n. use of v. from early 18th cent. ]
Usage . The traditional distinction between AMOUNT and NUMBER is that AMOUNT is used with mass or uncountable nouns ( the amount of paperwork; the amount of energy ) and NUMBER with countable nouns ( a number of songs; a number of days ). Although objected to, the use of AMOUNT instead of NUMBER with countable nouns occurs in both speech and writing, especially when the noun can be considered as a unit or group ( the amount of people present; the amount of weapons ) or when it refers to money ( the amount of dollars paid; the amount of pennies in the till ).