countdown
/ˈkaʊntdaʊn/noun
usu. in sing.
1- an act of counting numerals in reverse order to zero, especially to time the last seconds before the launching of a rocket or missile（尤指火箭或导弹发射前的）倒计数, 倒读数：
the missiles' launch crews would begin their final countdown.
导弹发射的全体人员将开始最后的倒计数了。
1.1
- （常作 countdown to）the final moments before a significant event and the procedures carried out during this time（重大事件发生前的）最后时刻; 最后时刻的工作：
it is hard to imagine the countdown to war continuing without an intensification of diplomacy.
战争一触即发, 而外交努力却没有加强, 这是难以想像的。
1.2
- a digital display that counts down倒计时显示器。