To understand the term Thread count first you should understand the term thread density. The thread density means number of yarns per unit length of the fabric in two principal directions. The two principal direction means length/longitudinal and width/latitudinal of the fabric. In weaving terms length direction is called the warp direction because the yarns running in this direction are called warp yarns and the width direction is called the weft direction because the yarns running in this direction are called weft yarns. The figure below shows the warp and weft directions.

What is thread count?

So the thread density means number of warp yarns and number of weft yarns per unit length. Usually one inch is taken as unit of length. Warp yarns are sometimes also called as ends and weft yarns are called as picks or fillings. Therefore, warp yarns/inch or ends/inch is warp density of the fabric…