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number

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A number is a word or symbol that represents an amount of people, things or units. (noun)

An example of a number is five.

To number means to count or to assign an order to people or things. (verb)

An example of number is a pulled ticket at a deli giving the order in which a customer will be called.

See number in Webster's New World College Dictionary

noun

a symbol or word, or a group of either of these, showing how many or which one in a series: 1, 2, 10, 101 (one, two, ten, one hundred and one) are called cardinal numbers; 1st, 2d, 10th, 101st (first, second, tenth, one hundred and first) are called ordinal numbers
arithmetic
the sum or total of persons or units; aggregate
a collection of persons or things; company; assemblage: a small number of people
1. a large group; many: cut down numbers of trees
2. numerical superiority: safety in numbers
3. ☆ statistics, ratings, etc.: the pitcher's salary will be based on last year's numbers
quantity, as consisting of units: a number of errors
one of a series or group that is numbered or thought of as numbered; specif.,
1. a single issue of a periodical: the winter number of a quarterly
2. a single song, dance, skit, etc. in a program of entertainment
3. ☆ Slang a pattern of behavior or thought, esp. one characteristic of a particular individual, group, etc.
Informal a person or thing singled out: this hat is a smart number
Gram.
1. a characteristic, as of nouns and verbs, indicating whether a given utterance involves reference to one or more than one entity, or, in some languages, to exactly two; also, an analytic category based on this characteristic
2. the form a word takes to indicate this characteristic
3. any of the sets of such forms
Obsolete
1. metrical form; meter
2. metrical lines; verses

transitive verb

to total the number of persons or things in; count; enumerate
to give a number to; designate by number
to include as one of a group, class, or category: numbered among the missing
to fix or limit the number or the duration of: his days are numbered
to have or comprise; total: a library numbering 10,000 volumes

intransitive verb

to total; count; enumerate
to be numbered; be included

Related Forms:

numberer noun

See number in American Heritage Dictionary 4

(nŭmˈbər)

noun

Mathematics
a. A member of the set of positive integers; one of a series of symbols of unique meaning in a fixed order that can be derived by counting.
b. A member of any of the further sets of mathematical objects, such as negative integers and real numbers.
numbers Arithmetic.
a. A symbol or word used to represent a number.
b. A numeral or a series of numerals used for reference or identification: his telephone number; the apartment number.
a. A position in an ordered sequence that corresponds to one of the positive integers: the house that is number three from the corner; ranked number six in her class.
b. One item in a group or series considered to be in numerical order: an old number of a magazine.
A total; a sum: the number of feet in a mile.
An indefinite quantity of units or individuals: The crowd was small in number. A number of people complained.
numbers
a. A large quantity; a multitude: Numbers of people visited the fair.
b. Numerical superiority: The South had leaders, the North numbers.
Grammar The indication, as by inflection, of the singularity, duality, or plurality of a linguistic form.
numbers
a. Metrical feet or lines; verses: “These numbers will I tear, and write in prose” (Shakespeare).
b. Obsolete Poetic meter.
numbers Archaic Musical periods or measures.
numbers (used with a sing. or pl. verb) Games A numbers game.
Numbers (used with a sing. verb) Abbr. Num. or Nb See Table at Bible.
One of the separate offerings in a program of music or other entertainment: The band's second number was a march.
Slang A frequently repeated, characteristic speech, argument, or performance: suspects doing their usual number—protesting innocence.
Slang A person or thing singled out for a particular characteristic: a crafty number.

verb num·bered, num·ber·ing, num·bers

verb, transitive

To assign a number to.
To determine the number or amount of; count.
To total in number or amount; add up to.
To include in a group or category: He was numbered among the lost.
To mention one by one; enumerate.
To limit or restrict in number: Our days are numbered.

verb, intransitive

To call off numbers; count: numbering to ten.
To constitute a group or number: The applicants numbered in the thousands.

Related Forms:

numˈber·er noun

Usage Note: As a collective noun number may take either a singular or a plural verb. It takes a singular verb when it is preceded by the definite article the: The number of skilled workers is small. It takes a plural verb when preceded by the indefinite article a: A number of the workers are unskilled.

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