2count noun
plural counts 1 [count] a : an act or process of adding people or things together to find the total number : an act or process of counting — usually singular ▪ They completed the ballot count late last night. ▪ At (my) last count [=the last time I counted], I had 50 responses to the invitation. ▪ According to the last count, he still needs many more votes. ▪ The official count showed that 40 people were killed in the hurricane. ▪ The teacher took/did a quick count of the students. [=the teacher quickly counted the students] — see also head count
b : the total number that is counted — usually singular ▪ The final count [=tally] of people at the conference was over 200. — see also blood count, body count, pollen count 2 [singular] : an act or process of saying numbers in order until a particular number is reached
▪ The boxer took an eight-count before getting up again. [=the referee counted to eight before the boxer got up again] — usually + of ▪ I'll give you a count of three to get out of here. = I'll give you until the count of three to get out of here. ▪ If you're not out of here by the count of three [=by the time I count to three], I'm calling the police. ▪ Jump off the diving board at the count of 10. [=when I say “10” after counting “one, two, three,…” etc.] ▪ Hold your breath for a count of 10. [=for the amount of time that it takes to count to 10] 3 [count] law : one of the crimes that someone is charged with — often + of ▪ She was charged with two counts of theft, and she was found guilty on both counts. 4 [count] : an idea or opinion that is expressed in a statement, argument, etc.
▪ The theory is wrong on all/several counts. [=all/several parts of the theory are wrong] ▪ I agree with you on both counts. [=I agree with both the points you have made] 5 the count baseball : the number of balls and strikes that have been pitched to a batter
▪ The count is two balls, two strikes. ▪ He was behind/ahead in the count. [=he had more/fewer strikes than balls against him] ◊A full count is a situation in baseball in which a batter has three balls and two strikes.
b : the total number that is counted — usually singular ▪ The final count [=tally] of people at the conference was over 200. — see also blood count, body count, pollen count
▪ The boxer took an eight-count before getting up again. [=the referee counted to eight before the boxer got up again] — usually + of ▪ I'll give you a count of three to get out of here. = I'll give you until the count of three to get out of here. ▪ If you're not out of here by the count of three [=by the time I count to three], I'm calling the police. ▪ Jump off the diving board at the count of 10. [=when I say “10” after counting “one, two, three,…” etc.] ▪ Hold your breath for a count of 10. [=for the amount of time that it takes to count to 10]
▪ The theory is wrong on all/several counts. [=all/several parts of the theory are wrong] ▪ I agree with you on both counts. [=I agree with both the points you have made]
▪ The count is two balls, two strikes. ▪ He was behind/ahead in the count. [=he had more/fewer strikes than balls against him] ◊A full count is a situation in baseball in which a batter has three balls and two strikes.
down for the count (US) or out for the count
of a boxer : knocked down and unable to get up again while the referee counts to 10
▪ The boxer was down for the count. [=knocked out] — often used figuratively ▪ The company may be about to go down for the count. [=may be about to fail completely and go out of business] ▪ Two minutes after getting into bed, I was out for the count. [=I was sleeping deeply]
▪ The boxer was down for the count. [=knocked out] — often used figuratively ▪ The company may be about to go down for the count. [=may be about to fail completely and go out of business] ▪ Two minutes after getting into bed, I was out for the count. [=I was sleeping deeply]
keep count
: to remember or keep a record of a number or total
▪ He's has had so many different girlfriends lately that I no longer can keep count. ▪ She is keeping count [=keeping track] of the hours she spends watching TV.
▪ He's has had so many different girlfriends lately that I no longer can keep count. ▪ She is keeping count [=keeping track] of the hours she spends watching TV.
lose count
: to forget a number or total
▪ I've lost count [=lost track] of how many different girlfriends he's had. ▪ I was counting the money when he interrupted me and made me lose count.
▪ I've lost count [=lost track] of how many different girlfriends he's had. ▪ I was counting the money when he interrupted me and made me lose count.
— compare 3count
