number*
NOUN:
1. a numeral or group of numerals.
2. the sum, total, count, or aggregate of a collection of units, or the like:
A number of people were hurt in the accident. // The number of homeless children 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 so as to designate its place in a series:
house number; license number.
5. one of a series of things distinguished by or marked with numerals.
6. a quantity of individuals:
Their number was more than 20,000.
7. quantity as composed of units:
to increase the number of eligible voters.
8. numerical strength or superiority; complement:
The garrison is not up to its full number.
9. a code of numerals, letters, or a combination of these assigned to a particular telephone:
Did you call the right number?
10. a concept of quantity that is or can be derived from a single unit, the sum of a collection of units, or zero. *
11. the symbol used to represent a number; numeral.
12. a numeral or string of numerals used to identify a person or thing, esp in numerical order:
a telephone number.
13. the person or thing so identified or designated:
she was number seven in the race.
14. the sum or quantity of equal or similar units or things:
a large number of people.
15. a symbol expressive of a certain value or of a specific quantity determined by count.
16. the place of any unit in a series.
17. a sum of units; total:
the number of people in the hall.
18. an indefinite usually large total:
a number of members were absent; the number of elderly is rising.
19. the characteristic of an individual by which it is treated as a unit or of a collection by which it is treated in terms of units:
there is a limited number of such laboratories. —P. D. Close.
20. an ascertainable total:
bugs beyond number.
21. a word, symbol, letter, or combination of symbols representing a number:
Spell out the numbers one through ten.
22. a numeral or combination of numerals or other symbols used to identify or designate:
dialed the wrong number.
23. a position in a numbered sequence:
You're number 7 on the waiting list.
other:
1. complement:
...the whole number of Senators... —U.S. Constitution.
2. a numerical preponderance:
There's safety in numbers.
3. lifetime—used with up:
the old feeling that comes to men in combat … that your number was up. —Geoffrey Norman.
See Table of Numbers at Merriam-Webster.*
Examples:
the numbers and letters on a license plate; a three-digit number like 429. —Merriam-Webster.
of people:
1. a group or band of people, esp an exclusive group:
he was not one of our number.
2. a group of one kind:
not of their number.
3. a person represented by a number or considered without regard to individuality:
at the university I was just a number.
of a company:
1. a certain collection, company, or quantity not precisely reckoned, but usually considerable or large:
I've gone there a number of times.
2. the full count of a collection or company.
3. a collection or company.
of a book, periodical:
1. a single issue of a periodical:
several numbers of a popular magazine.
2. one of a series, as of a magazine or periodical; issue.
3. a member of a sequence or collection designated by especially consecutive numbers (such as an issue of a periodical):
just received issue number 8 of the magazine.
4. a single part of a book published in a series of parts.
in grammar:
1. a category of noun, verb, or adjective inflection found in many languages, 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 more. —Dictionary.com.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. a distinction of word form to denote reference to one or more than one:
A subject and its verb should agree in number.
—Also, a form or group of forms so distinguished.
in math:
1. regarded as a science, a basic concept, and a mode of thought:
Number is the basis of science.
2. a unit belonging to an abstract mathematical system and subject to specified laws of succession, addition, and multiplication:
a number divisible by 2.
—especially, natural number.
3. an element (such as π) of any of many mathematical systems obtained by extension of or analogy with the natural number system.
4. "numbers" (plural), arithmetic:
Teach children their numbers.
5. 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.
6. 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.
informal:
1. person; individual:
the attractive number standing at the bar.
2. one singled out from a group; individual, such as a girl or woman:
met an attractive number at the dance.
3. an article of merchandise, especially of wearing apparel, offered for sale:
Put those leather numbers in the display window.
4. an item of merchandise and especially clothing:
put that black velvet number with the sequins on the blonde dummy. —Bennett Cerf.
5. stunt, trick.
6. an act of transforming or impairing:
tripped and did a number on her knee.
7. insight into a person's ability or character:
had my number.
of music, poetry, the stage:
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.
3. a tune or arrangement for singing or dancing.
4. a single or distinct performance within a show, as a song or dance:
The comic routine followed the dance number.
5. a single part of a program made up of a group of similar parts:
For her third number she played a nocturne.
6. any of a collection of poems or songs.
7. a distinct part of an extended musical work or one in a sequence of compositions.
8. conformity in music or verse to regular beat or measure; rhythm.
9. one singled out from a group : individual: such as:
a) a musical, theatrical, or literary selection or production:
The actors broke into a song and dance number.
b) routine, act:
The comedian's number had the audience laughing out loud.
Origin:
1250–1300; 1940–45 for def 23; (noun) Middle English, variant of nombre < Old French < Latin numerus; (v.) Middle English nombren < Old French nombrer < Latin numerāre (derivative of numerus). Dictionary 2: C13: from Old French nombre, from Latin numerus. —Dictionary.com * //
First Known Use of number: Noun: 14th century. Verb: 14th century. History and Etymology for number: Noun and Verb: Middle English nombre, from Anglo-French, from Latin numerus. —Merriam-Webster *
1. a numeral or group of numerals.
2. the sum, total, count, or aggregate of a collection of units, or the like:
A number of people were hurt in the accident. // The number of homeless children 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 so as to designate its place in a series:
house number; license number.
5. one of a series of things distinguished by or marked with numerals.
6. a quantity of individuals:
Their number was more than 20,000.
7. quantity as composed of units:
to increase the number of eligible voters.
8. numerical strength or superiority; complement:
The garrison is not up to its full number.
9. a code of numerals, letters, or a combination of these assigned to a particular telephone:
Did you call the right number?
10. a concept of quantity that is or can be derived from a single unit, the sum of a collection of units, or zero. *
11. the symbol used to represent a number; numeral.
12. a numeral or string of numerals used to identify a person or thing, esp in numerical order:
a telephone number.
13. the person or thing so identified or designated:
she was number seven in the race.
14. the sum or quantity of equal or similar units or things:
a large number of people.
15. a symbol expressive of a certain value or of a specific quantity determined by count.
16. the place of any unit in a series.
17. a sum of units; total:
the number of people in the hall.
18. an indefinite usually large total:
a number of members were absent; the number of elderly is rising.
19. the characteristic of an individual by which it is treated as a unit or of a collection by which it is treated in terms of units:
there is a limited number of such laboratories. —P. D. Close.
20. an ascertainable total:
bugs beyond number.
21. a word, symbol, letter, or combination of symbols representing a number:
Spell out the numbers one through ten.
22. a numeral or combination of numerals or other symbols used to identify or designate:
dialed the wrong number.
23. a position in a numbered sequence:
You're number 7 on the waiting list.
other:
1. complement:
...the whole number of Senators... —U.S. Constitution.
2. a numerical preponderance:
There's safety in numbers.
3. lifetime—used with up:
the old feeling that comes to men in combat … that your number was up. —Geoffrey Norman.
See Table of Numbers at Merriam-Webster.*
Examples:
the numbers and letters on a license plate; a three-digit number like 429. —Merriam-Webster.
of people:
1. a group or band of people, esp an exclusive group:
he was not one of our number.
2. a group of one kind:
not of their number.
3. a person represented by a number or considered without regard to individuality:
at the university I was just a number.
of a company:
1. a certain collection, company, or quantity not precisely reckoned, but usually considerable or large:
I've gone there a number of times.
2. the full count of a collection or company.
3. a collection or company.
of a book, periodical:
1. a single issue of a periodical:
several numbers of a popular magazine.
2. one of a series, as of a magazine or periodical; issue.
3. a member of a sequence or collection designated by especially consecutive numbers (such as an issue of a periodical):
just received issue number 8 of the magazine.
4. a single part of a book published in a series of parts.
in grammar:
1. a category of noun, verb, or adjective inflection found in many languages, 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 more. —Dictionary.com.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. a distinction of word form to denote reference to one or more than one:
A subject and its verb should agree in number.
—Also, a form or group of forms so distinguished.
in math:
1. regarded as a science, a basic concept, and a mode of thought:
Number is the basis of science.
2. a unit belonging to an abstract mathematical system and subject to specified laws of succession, addition, and multiplication:
a number divisible by 2.
—especially, natural number.
3. an element (such as π) of any of many mathematical systems obtained by extension of or analogy with the natural number system.
4. "numbers" (plural), arithmetic:
Teach children their numbers.
5. 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.
6. 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.
informal:
1. person; individual:
the attractive number standing at the bar.
2. one singled out from a group; individual, such as a girl or woman:
met an attractive number at the dance.
3. an article of merchandise, especially of wearing apparel, offered for sale:
Put those leather numbers in the display window.
4. an item of merchandise and especially clothing:
put that black velvet number with the sequins on the blonde dummy. —Bennett Cerf.
5. stunt, trick.
6. an act of transforming or impairing:
tripped and did a number on her knee.
7. insight into a person's ability or character:
had my number.
of music, poetry, the stage:
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.
3. a tune or arrangement for singing or dancing.
4. a single or distinct performance within a show, as a song or dance:
The comic routine followed the dance number.
5. a single part of a program made up of a group of similar parts:
For her third number she played a nocturne.
6. any of a collection of poems or songs.
7. a distinct part of an extended musical work or one in a sequence of compositions.
8. conformity in music or verse to regular beat or measure; rhythm.
9. one singled out from a group : individual: such as:
a) a musical, theatrical, or literary selection or production:
The actors broke into a song and dance number.
b) routine, act:
The comedian's number had the audience laughing out loud.
Origin:
1250–1300; 1940–45 for def 23; (noun) Middle English, variant of nombre < Old French < Latin numerus; (v.) Middle English nombren < Old French nombrer < Latin numerāre (derivative of numerus). Dictionary 2: C13: from Old French nombre, from Latin numerus. —Dictionary.com * //
First Known Use of number: Noun: 14th century. Verb: 14th century. History and Etymology for number: Noun and Verb: Middle English nombre, from Anglo-French, from Latin numerus. —Merriam-Webster *