a count

Meanings

1. 1nouncountable

   A nobleman in some European countries, ranking below a duke or marquess.

   Grammar: Used as a title before a name, e.g. 'Count Dracula', or with 'a' when referring to the person.

   Patterns

   • a count
   • Count + name

   The count owned a large castle in the countryside.

   She was invited to a ball hosted by a count.

   Count Dracula is a famous fictional character.

2. 2nouncountable

   An act of counting or a total number obtained by counting.

   Grammar: Often used with 'of' to specify what is being counted, e.g. 'a count of votes'.

   Patterns

   • a count of something
   • keep count
   • lose count

   The final count showed that she had won by a narrow margin.

   Please do a count of all the chairs before the meeting.

   I've lost count of how many times I've seen this movie.

Word forms

Common combinations

a count of

We need a count of all the people in the room.

keep count

It's hard to keep count of the score when the game is so fast.

lose count

I've lost count of the number of emails I've received today.

the final count

The final count will be announced tomorrow.

Synonyms and how they differ

tally

A tally is a record of a count, often kept by making marks; it is more informal than 'count'.

total

Total refers to the final sum, while count emphasizes the process or the number reached.

Word family

countess noun

A woman with the rank of count, or the wife of a count.

count verb

To say numbers in order or to calculate the total.

Commonly confused: a count or count?

Practice

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