amount

[uh-mount] /əˈmaʊnt/
noun
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.
verb (used without object)
5.
to total; add (usually followed by to):
The repair bill amounts to $300.
6.
to reach, extend, or be equal in number, quantity, effect, etc.; be equivalent (usually followed by to):
It is stated differently but amounts to the same thing.
7.
to develop into; become (usually followed by to):
With his intelligence, he should amount to something when he grows up.
Origin
1250-1300; Middle English amounten, amunten < Anglo-French amo(u)nter, amunter, Old French amonter literally, to go up, ascend, probably a- a-5 + monter (see mount1); E noun use of v. from early 18th cent.
Can be confused
amount, number (see usage note at the current entry)
Usage note
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).
Examples from the web for amount
  • After a certain amount of homework the positive effect on achievement disappears, and might even turn negative.
  • We are not sure if the total amount of water was the same then as it is now there are processes by which water is slowly lost.
  • Total amount to be awarded and number of awards: not specified.
  • Many experts say that is a small fraction of the total amount leaking into the gulf.
  • In the future, that amount may be based on a percentage of the fund's total worth.
  • Often the amount of ethanol created is equal to or less than the amount of fossil fuels needed to run the facility.
  • While he did drink, many of those who knew him described the unusual effect that even the smallest amount had on his system.
  • Absolute humidity is a measurement of the total amount of water vapor in the air at a given temperature.
  • The total amount of suffering per year in the natural world is beyond all decent contemplation.
  • Mash yolks, and add equal amount of cold cooked chicken or veal, finely chopped.
British Dictionary definitions for amount

amount

/əˈmaʊnt/
noun
1.
extent; quantity; supply
2.
the total of two or more quantities; sum
3.
the full value, effect, or significance of something
4.
a principal sum plus the interest on it, as in a loan
verb
5.
(intransitive) usually foll by to. to be equal or add up in effect, meaning, or quantity
Usage note
The use of a plural noun after amount of (an amount of bananas; the amount of refugees) should be avoided: a quantity of bananas; the number of refugees
Word Origin
C13: from Old French amonter to go up, from amont upwards, from a to + mont mountain (from Latin mōns)
Word Origin and History for amount
v.

late 13c., "to go up, rise, mount (a horse)," from Old French amonter, from a mont "upward," literally "to the mountain," from Latin ad- "to" (see ad-) + montem (nominative mons) "mountain" (see mount (n.)). Meaning "to rise in number or quality (so as to reach)" is from c.1300. Related: Amounted; amounting.

n.

1710, from amount (v.).