pollen count

American  

noun

1. a count of the amount of pollen in the air, based on the average of the number of pollen grains that collect on slides exposed to the air for a given period of time.

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pollen count British  

noun

1. a measure of the pollen present in the air over a 24-hour period, often published to enable sufferers from hay fever to predict the severity of their attacks

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Etymology

Origin of pollen count

First recorded in 1925–30

Example Sentences

In the UK, pollen grains are manually measured to find the daily pollen count.

From Science Daily • Jan. 8, 2024

More than 122,650 people visited the NHS website seeking hay-fever advice last week, as the pollen count hit some of its highest levels this year.

From BBC • Jun. 12, 2023

Indeed, the severity of allergy symptoms boils down to the pollen count, and how long pollen counts are high.

From Salon • Apr. 27, 2023

“So, we expect the pollen count this year to be robust, with more people experiencing symptoms as a result.”

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 30, 2023

D.C.’s first high tree pollen count came on Feb. 8, when 487 grains were measured per every cubic meter of air.

From Washington Post • Feb. 16, 2023