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tally Definition

tally (talē)

noun pl. -·lies

    1. Obsolete a stick with cross notches representing the amount of a debt owing or paid: usually the stick was split lengthwise, half for the debtor and half for the creditor
    2. anything used as a record for an account, reckoning, or score
  1. an account, reckoning, or score
    1. either of two corresponding parts of something; counterpart
    2. agreement; correspondence
  2. any number of objects used as a unit in counting
  3. an identifying tag or label

Etymology: ME talye < Anglo-L talia < L talea, a stick, cutting: see tailor

transitive verb -·lied, -·ly·ing

  1. to put on or as on a tally; record
  2. to count; add: usually with up
  3. to put a label or tag on
  4. Archaic to make (two things) agree or correspond

intransitive verb

  1. to tally something
  2. to score a point or points in a game
  3. to agree; correspond

tally Synonyms

tally

n.

  1. Account

    reckoning, summation, poll, tab; see score 1, 2.

  2. Counterpart

    match, complement, partner, coordinate, companion, reciprocal.

  3. Label

    identification, emblem, insignia; see tag 2.

tally Synonyms

tally

v.

  1. To record

    write down, register, mark down; see record 1.

  2. To count

    add up, sum, total; see count.

  3. To agree

    correspond, match, jibe*; see agree. See syn. study at agree.

tally Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • keep: The GDC will keep a tally of your yearly totals.

Adjective modifier

  • unbeaten: Leading the triumph was awesome Aussie Leigh Adams, whose unbeaten 14+1 tally was his forty-third career maximum for the club.
  • impressive: Hitchin, still not content with their impressive tally, found time for number seven with just two minutes left on the clock.
  • final: His final lap tally for the day was 72 laps.
  • overall: Taylor's Gold brought the overall medal tally for the young British squad to three.

Modifies a noun

  • ho: Tally ho both, and please tell us that you definitely won't be at home to Mr Cockup!
  • chart: Pupils create a tally chart for the whole class for each topic.
  • stick: Finally most sets come with some tally sticks which are used for scoring.
  • counter: Remote control of tare and adding memory with tally counter and printer.
  • sheet: This could be recorded on a simple tally sheet.

Noun used with modifier

  • double-figure: However, the remarkable Australian eased to victories in his remaining two rides as he contributed yet another double-figure tally.
  • medal: Taylor's Gold brought the overall medal tally for the young British squad to three.
  • goal: Laura Hunt came out on top in the goals tally with 51 goals for the season.
  • lap: His final lap tally for the day was 72 laps.
  • championship: He did so by finishing the second race in ninth position and picking up seven points toward his championship tally.
  • point: We will not better our points tally of 60 last season.

Possessives

  • season: However John improved on his previous season's tally by scoring no less than 38 goals.

Preposition: of

  • medal: Britain's tally of 13 medals included three for Kirsty Balfour, who we caught up with for this month's Total Swimming interview.
  • goal: His final tally of 119 goals in 165 games was a measure of his deadly striking power.

Preposition: for

  • season: Young's goal at Queens Park Rangers last Saturday took his tally for the season to 14 from 38 starts.

Browse dictionary entries near tally

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  3. tallish
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  10. tallage
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  4. Talmudist
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