v. & n.
v. 1 tr. determine the total number or amount of, esp. by assigning successive numbers (count the stations). 2 intr. repeat numbers in ascending order; conduct a reckoning. 3 a tr. (often foll. by in) include in one's reckoning or plan (you can count me in; fifteen people, counting the guide). b intr. be included in a reckoning or plan. 4 tr. consider (a thing or a person) to be (lucky etc.) (count no man happy until he is dead). 5 intr. (often foll. by for) have value; matter (his opinion counts for a great deal).
n. 1 a the act of counting; a reckoning (after a count of fifty). b the sum total of a reckoning (blood count; pollen count). 2 Law each charge in an indictment (guilty on ten counts). 3 a count of up to ten seconds by a referee when a boxer is knocked down. 4 Polit. the act of counting the votes after a general or local election. 5 one of several points under discussion. 6 the measure of the fineness of a yarn expressed as the weight of a given length or the length of a given weight. 7 Physics the number of ionizing particles detected by a counter. count against be reckoned to the disadvantage of. count one's blessings be grateful for what one has. count one's chickens be over-optimistic or hasty in anticipating good fortune. count the cost consider the risks before taking action. count the days (or hours etc.) be impatient. count down recite numbers backwards to zero, esp. as part of a rocket-launching procedure. counting-house a place where accounts are kept. count noun a countable noun (see COUNTABLE 2). count on (or upon) depend on, rely on; expect confidently. count out 1 count while taking from a stock. 2 complete a count of ten seconds over (a fallen boxer etc.), indicating defeat. 3 (in children's games) select (a player) for dismissal or a special role by use of a counting rhyme etc. 4 colloq. exclude from a plan or reckoning (I'm too tired, count me out). 5 Brit. Polit. procure the adjournment of (the House of Commons) when fewer than 40 members are present. count up find the sum of. keep count take note of how many there have been etc. lose count fail to take note of the number etc. not counting excluding from the reckoning. out for the count 1 Boxing defeated by being unable to rise within ten seconds. 2 a defeated or demoralized. b soundly asleep. take the count Boxing be defeated.
[ ME f. OF co(u)nter, co(u)nte f. LL computus, computare COMPUTE ]