number

[ nuhm-ber ]

noun

1. a numeral or group of numerals.

   Synonyms: figure, digit

2. the sum, total, count, or aggregate of a collection of people or things:

   The number of children experiencing homelessness in the city has risen alarmingly.

3. a word or symbol, or a combination of words or symbols, used in counting or in noting a total.
4. the particular numeral assigned to an object or, sometimes, a person, indicating its place in a series:

   house number;

   license number;

   jersey number.

5. one of a series of things or people distinguished by or marked with numerals:

   Number 5's order is ready to be delivered.

6. a code of numerals, letters, or a combination of these assigned to a particular telephone:

   Did you call the right number?

7. quantity as composed of units or individuals:

   The governor put forth a plan to increase the number of eligible voters.

8. the count or quantity of a collection or company:

   Their number was more than 20,000.

9. numbers,
   1. a considerable amount or quantity; many:

      Numbers flocked to the city to see the parade.

   2. metrical feet; verse.
   3. musical periods, measures, or groups of notes.
   4. numbers pool ( def 1 ).
   5. Informal. the figures representing the actual cost, expense, profit, etc.:

      We won't make a decision until we see the numbers.

   6. Obsolete. arithmetic.
10. numerical strength or superiority; complement:

    The garrison is not up to its full number.

11. a single or distinct performance within a show, as a song or dance:

    The comic routine followed the dance number.

12. a single part of a program made up of a group of similar parts:

    For her third number she played a nocturne.

13. any of a collection of poems or songs.
14. a tune or arrangement for singing or dancing.
15. a distinct part of an extended musical work or one in a sequence of compositions.
16. conformity in music or verse to regular beat or measure; rhythm.
17. a single part of a book published in a series of parts.
18. a single issue of a periodical:

    The bookcase contained several numbers of a popular magazine.

    Synonyms: edition

19. Grammar. a category of noun, verb, or adjective inflection found in many languages, such as English, Latin, and Arabic, used to indicate whether a word has one or more than one referent. There may be a two-way distinction in number, as between singular and plural, three-way, as between singular, dual, and plural, or a more complex system.
20. Informal. a person; individual:

    Why don't you go talk to the attractive number standing at the bar?

21. Informal. an article of merchandise, especially of clothing, offered for sale:

    Put those leather numbers in the display window.

22. mathematics regarded as a system, a basic concept, and a mode of thought:

    Number is the basis of science.

verb (used with object)

1. to mark with or distinguish by numeral:

   Number each of the definitions.

2. to ascertain the number of; count.
3. to total or amount to:

   The manuscript already numbers 425 pages.

4. to consider or include in a collection or group:

   I number myself among his friends.

5. to count over one by one:

   to number one's blessings.

6. to mention individually or one by one; list; enumerate:

   They numbered the highlights of their trip at length.

7. to set or fix the number of; limit in number; make few in number:

   The sick old man's days are numbered.

8. to live or have lived (a number of years).
9. to apportion or divide by counting (used with off ):

   The players were numbered off into two teams.

verb (used without object)

1. to make a total; reach an amount:

   Casualties numbered in the thousands.

2. to be numbered or included (usually followed by among or with ):

   Several eminent scientists number among his friends.

3. to count.

number

/ ˈnʌmbə /

noun

1. See ordinal number, cardinal number, algebraic number, transcendental number, fraction, integer, irrational number, rational number, real number, imaginary number, complex number
   a concept of quantity that is or can be derived from a single unit, the sum of a collection of units, or zero. Every number occupies a unique position in a sequence, enabling it to be used in counting. It can be assigned to one or more sets that can be arranged in a hierarchical classification: every number is a complex number ; a complex number is either an imaginary number or a real number , and the latter can be a rational number or an irrational number ; a rational number is either an integer or a fraction , while an irrational number can be a transcendental number or an algebraic number See complex number imaginary number real number rational number irrational number integer fraction transcendental number algebraic number See also cardinal number ordinal number
2. the symbol used to represent a number; numeral
3. a numeral or string of numerals used to identify a person or thing, esp in numerical order

   a telephone number

4. the person or thing so identified or designated

   she was number seven in the race

5. the sum or quantity of equal or similar units or things

   a large number of people

6. one of a series, as of a magazine or periodical; issue
7. 1. a self-contained piece of pop or jazz music
   2. a self-contained part of an opera or other musical score, esp one for the stage
8. a group or band of people, esp an exclusive group

   he was not one of our number

9. slang.
   a person, esp a woman

   who's that nice little number?

10. informal.
    an admired article, esp an item of clothing for a woman

    that little number is by Dior

11. slang.
    a cannabis cigarette

    roll another number

12. a grammatical category for the variation in form of nouns, pronouns, and any words agreeing with them, depending on how many persons or things are referred to, esp as singular or plural in number and in some languages dual or trial
13. any number of
    any number of several or many
14. by numbers
    by numbers military (of a drill procedure, etc) performed step by step, each move being made on the call of a number
15. do a number on someone slang.
    do a number on someone to manipulate or trick someone
16. get someone's number informal.
    get someone's numberhave someone's number to discover someone's true character or intentions
17. in numbers
    in numbers in large numbers; numerously
18. one's number is up informal.
    one's number is up one is finished; one is ruined or about to die
19. without number
    without numberbeyond number of too great a quantity to be counted; innumerable

verb

1. to assign a number to
2. to add up to; total
3. also intr to list (items) one by one; enumerate
4. also intr to put or be put into a group, category, etc

   they were numbered among the worst hit

5. to limit the number of

   his days were numbered

number

/ nŭm′bər /

1. A member of the set of positive integers. Each number is one of a series of unique symbols, each of which has exactly one predecessor except the first symbol in the series (1), and none of which are the predecessor of more than one number.
2. A member of any of the further sets of mathematical objects defined in terms of such numbers, such as negative integers, real numbers, and complex numbers.

number

1. The grammatical category that classifies a noun , pronoun , or verb as singular or plural . Woman, it , and is are singular; women, they , and are are plural.

Grammar Note

As a collective noun, number, when preceded by a, is most often treated as a plural: A number of legislators have voiced their dissent. When preceded by the, it is usually used as a singular: The number of legislators present was small. collective noun.

Confusables Note

See amount,

Other Words From

• num·ber·a·ble adjective
• num·ber·er noun
• de·num·ber verb (used with object)
• mis·num·ber verb
• pre·num·ber verb (used with object) noun
• re·num·ber verb (used with object)
• sub·num·ber noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of number¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; 1940–45 number fordef 20; Middle English noun nombre, nomber, number, from Old French nombre, numbre, from Latin numerus; verb derivative of the noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of number¹

C13: from Old French nombre, from Latin numerus

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. a number of, an imprecisely reckoned collection of more than a few; several:

   In a number of states, like Ohio, Iowa, and North Carolina, early voting has already begun.

2. any number of, an imprecisely reckoned but large or diverse collection:

   The island is home to any number of artistic residents from around the world.

3. by the numbers,
   1. according to standard procedure, rules, customs, etc.; orthodoxly; by the book:

      We're going to run things here by the numbers.

   2. together or in unison to a called-out count:

      The class involves calisthenics by the numbers.

4. do a number on, Slang.
   1. to undermine, defeat, humiliate, or criticize thoroughly:

      The committee really did a number on the mayor's proposal.

   2. to discuss or discourse about, especially in an entertaining way:

      She could do a number on anything from dentistry to the Bomb.

5. do one's number,
   1. to give a performance; perform:

      It's time for you to get on stage and do your number.

   2. Slang. to behave in a predictable or customary manner:

      Whenever I call, he does his number about being too busy to talk.

6. get / have someone's number, Informal. to become informed about someone's real motives, character, intentions, etc.:

   He was only interested in her fortune, but she got his number fast.

7. have someone's number on it, Slang. to be thought of as the instrument of fate in the death of a person:

   That bullet had his number on it.

8. one's number is / was / will be up, Slang.
   1. one is (was, will be) in serious trouble.
   2. one is (was, will be) on the point of death:

      Convinced that her number was up anyway, she refused to see doctors.

9. without number, of unknown or countless number; vast:

   The night sky was filled with stars without number.

More idioms and phrases containing number

In addition to the idiom beginning with number , also see a number of ; any number of ; back number ; by the numbers ; crunch numbers ; days are numbered ; do a job (number) on ; get (have) someone's number ; hot number ; in round numbers ; look out for (number one) ; opposite number ; safety in numbers .

Synonym Study

Number, sum both imply the total of two or more units. Number applies to the result of a count or estimate in which the units are considered as individuals; it is used of groups of persons or things: to have a number of items on the agenda. Sum applies to the result of addition, in which only the total is considered: a large sum of money.

Example Sentences

Administration officials note that a number of former employees also have praised the president extensively and that the president has overwhelming support in his own party.

From Washington Post

By Sunday, that number will rise to nearly 20 states, including Wisconsin, Georgia, Indiana, Virginia and Rhode Island.

From Washington Post

Increasing numbers of rank-and-file Democrats are beginning to question that approach.

From Washington Post

Baron Cohen spoke to Kardashian West and helped attract a number of other celebrities, Steyer said.

From Fortune

The exact number of people posting the messages was not clear.

From Washington Post

“Our members continue to face a number of challenges,” she said.

From The Daily Beast

The number of dissenters though is unprecedented in the modern era.

From The Daily Beast

Starting under Theodore Roosevelt and Howard Taft, embassies headed by career diplomats increased in number.

From The Daily Beast

The number of diplomats was pitiful (45 appointees in 1860), as was the amount of money allocated to them.

From The Daily Beast

Jett sees this number as a marker of how much the president allows professionals to do the job.

From The Daily Beast

The country is well inhabited, for it contains fifty-one cities, near a hundred walled towns, and a great number of villages.

From Project Gutenberg

We had six field-pieces, but we only took four, harnessed wit twice the usual number of horses.

From Project Gutenberg

There are a number of bacilli, called acid-fast bacilli, which stain in the same way as the tubercle bacillus.

From Project Gutenberg

Five of the number had studied with Liszt before, and the young men are artists already before the public.

From Project Gutenberg

I do not think the average number of passengers on a corresponding route in our country could be so few as twenty.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• amount
• collection
• company
• estimate
• lot
• many
• product
• quantity
• sum
• total
• volume