number

noun numbers · nummer · numbre

1. countable, uncountable Quantity of countable things. Any number of people can be reading from a given repository at a time.
2. countable An abstract entity used to describe quantity. Zero, one, −1, 2.5, and pi are all numbers.
3. countable A numeral: a symbol for a non-negative integer. The number 8 is usually made with a single stroke.
4. countable An element of one of several sets: natural numbers, integers, rational numbers, real numbers, complex numbers, and sometimes extensions such as hypercomplex numbers, etc. The equation e#123;i#92;pi#125;#43;1#61;0 includes the most important numbers: 1, 0, #92;pi, i, and e.
5. attributive, countable, uncountable Indicating the position of something in a list or sequence. Abbreviations: No or No., no or no. (in each case, sometimes written with a superscript "o", like Nº or №). The symbol "#" is also used in this manner. Horse number 5 won the race.
6. countable, uncountable A sequence of digits and letters used to register people, automobiles, and various other items. Her passport number is C01X864TN.
7. countable, informal A telephone number. Let's give her a call. Do you have her number handy?
8. countable, uncountable Of a word or phrase, the state of being singular, dual or plural, shown by inflection. Adjectives and nouns should agree in gender, number, and case.
9. archaic, countable, in plural, uncountable Poetic metres; verses, rhymes. Griefe brought to numbers cannot be ſo fierce, / For, he tames it, that fetters it in verſe.
10. countable A performance; especially, a single song or song and dance routine within a larger show. For his second number, he sang "The Moon Shines Bright".
11. countable, formal, singular, singular only, uncountable A group of people. I include myself in their number.
12. countable, informal A person. I laughed. "Don't doubt that. She's a saucy little number."
13. countable, informal An outfit, particularly a stylish one. The trouble was I was wearing my backless glittering number from the night before underneath, so unless I could persuade the office it was National Fancy Dress Day I was doomed to sweat profusely in bottle blue.
14. US, countable, slang, uncountable A marijuana cigarette, or joint; also, a quantity of marijuana bought from a dealer. These were the two that Tommy had chosen to collect a debt owed to his family by a dude named Heath who ran numbers out of a grocery store on 131st and Lenox.
15. countable, dated, uncountable An issue of a periodical publication. the latest number of a magazine
16. countable, uncountable A large amount, in contrast to a smaller amount; numerical preponderance. Despite last week's woes, the Braves still sport numbers that would make Christie Brinkley blush.
17. countable, uncountable An activity; assignment; job, as in cushy number.

Similar: number

verb numbers · numbering · numbered · nummer · numbre

1. intransitive To total or count; to amount to. I don’t know how many books are in the library, but they must number in the thousands.
2. transitive To limit to a certain number; to reckon (as by fate) to be few in number. The old man knew that his days were numbered.
3. archaic, literary, transitive To count; to determine the quantity of. The king ordered that all his subjects be numbered.
4. transitive To label (items) with numbers; to assign numbers to (items). Number the baskets so that we can find them easily.
5. transitive To call out and assign a series of numbers (usually to people), either for the sake of dividing into groups or for counting. Shelley numbered off the group into two teams for the baseball game.
6. transitive To enumerate or list, especially while assigning numbers to. I numbered them off on my fingers as I stated them. “First, I would redeem a small amount of my investment assets to pay off the cleared lot and come up with a down payment for the ten acres. Second, I would seek to obtain an open[…]
7. transitive, usually To classify or include (in a group of things). Alexander the Great's army numbered an elite cavalry among its ranks.
8. intransitive, usually To be classified or included (in a certain group or category of things). Her horses number among the fastest in her country.

adjective nummer · numbre

1. comparative comparative form of numb: more numb

noun numbers · nummer · numbre

1. Something that numbs.

Similar: number