English
number
Etymology 1

From Middle English number, nombre, numbre, noumbre, from Anglo-Norman noumbre, Old French nombre, from Latin numerus, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *nem-.

Pronunciation
  • (RP) enPR: nŭmʹbər, IPA: /ˈnʌmbə/
  • (America) enPR: nŭmʹbər, IPA: /ˈnʌmbɚ/
Noun

number (plural numbers)

  1. (countable) An abstract entity used to describe quantity.
    Zero, one, −1, 2.5, and pi are all numbers.
  2. (countable) A numeral: a symbol for a non-negative integer.
    Synonyms: scalar, rime
    The number 8 is usually made with a single stroke.
  3. (countable, mathematics) 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^{i\pi}+1=0 includes the most important numbers: 1, 0, \pi, i, and e.
  4. (Followed by a numeral; used attributively) 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.
  5. Quantity.
    • 1625, Francis [Bacon], “Of the True Greatness of Kingdoms and Estates”, in The Essayes […], 3rd edition, London: […] Iohn Haviland for Hanna Barret, →OCLC ↗:
      Number itself importeth not much in armies where the people are of weak courage.
    Any number of people can be reading from a given repository at a time.
  6. 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?
    I'm definitely interested. Here's my number. Call me back anytime.
    • 2016, [https://web.archive.org/web/20170918070146/https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/lets-learn-english-lesson-3-i-am-here/3126527.html VOA Learning English] (public domain)
      Marsha's work number is 555-8986.
  8. (grammar) 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. (now, rare, in the plural) Poetic metres; verses, rhymes.
    • a. 1631 (date written), J[ohn] Donne, “The Triple Foole”, in Poems, […] with Elegies on the Authors Death, London: […] M[iles] F[lesher] for Iohn Marriot, […], published 1633, →OCLC ↗, page 204 ↗:
      Griefe brought to numbers cannot be ſo fierce, / For, he tames it, that fetters it in verſe.
    • 1735 January 13 (Gregorian calendar; indicated as 1734), [Alexander] Pope, An Epistle from Mr. Pope, to Dr. Arbuthnot, London: […] J[ohn] Wright for Lawton Gilliver […], →OCLC ↗, page 7 ↗, lines 124–125:
      As yet a Child, nor yet a Fool to Fame, / I liſp'd in Numbers, for the Numbers came.
  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, informal) A person.
  12. (countable, informal) An outfit, particularly a stylish one.
  13. (slang, chiefly, US) A marijuana cigarette, or joint; also, a quantity of marijuana bought from a dealer.
    • 2009, Thomas Pynchon, Inherent Vice, Vintage, published 2010, page 12:
      Back at his place again, Doc rolled a number, put on a late movie, found an old T-shirt, and sat tearing it up into short strips […]
  14. (dated) An issue of a periodical publication.
    the latest number of a magazine
  15. A large amount, in contrast to a smaller amount; numerical preponderance.
  16. An activity; assignment; job, as in cushy number.
Translations Translations Translations Translations Translations Translations Translations Translations Translations Translations Verb

number (numbers, present participle numbering; simple past and past participle numbered)

  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, passive) 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. (transitive, literary or archaic) To count; to determine the quantity of.
    The king ordered that all his subjects be numbered.
    Who can number all the stars and who can count the desert sands?
  4. (transitive) To label (items) with numbers; to assign numbers to (items).
    Number the baskets so that we can find them easily.
  5. (transitive, with off) 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, with off) To enumerate or list, especially while assigning numbers to.
  7. (transitive, usually with among) To classify or include (in a group of things)
    Alexander the Great's army numbered an elite cavalry among its ranks.
  8. (intransitive, usually with among) To be classified or included (in a certain group or category of things).
    Her horses number among the fastest in her country.
Translations Translations Translations Translations Translations Translations Pronunciation Adjective
  1. comparative form of numb


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