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.
a word or symbol, or a combination of words or symbols, used in counting or in noting a total.
the particular numeral assigned to an object so as to designate its place in a series: house number; license number.
one of a series of things distinguished by or marked with numerals.
a certain collection, company, or quantity not precisely reckoned, but usually considerable or large: I've gone there a number of times.
the full count of a collection or company.
a collection or company.
a quantity of individuals: Their number was more than 20,000.
numbers,
a considerable amount or quantity; many: Numbers flocked to the city to see the parade.
metrical feet; verse.
musical periods, measures, or groups of notes.
numbers pool (def. 1).
Informal.the figures representing the actual cost, expense, profit, etc.: We won't make a decision until we see the numbers.
Obsolete.arithmetic.
quantity as composed of units: to increase the number of eligible voters.
numerical strength or superiority; complement: The garrison is not up to its full number.
a tune or arrangement for singing or dancing.
a single or distinct performance within a show, as a song or dance: The comic routine followed the dance number.
a single part of a program made up of a group of similar parts: For her third number she played a nocturne.
any of a collection of poems or songs.
a distinct part of an extended musical work or one in a sequence of compositions.
conformity in music or verse to regular beat or measure; rhythm.
a single part of a book published in a series of parts.
a single issue of a periodical: several numbers of a popular magazine.
a code of numerals, letters, or a combination of these assigned to a particular telephone: Did you call the right number?
Grammar. 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.
Informal. person; individual: the attractive number standing at the bar.
Informal. an article of merchandise, especially of wearing apparel, offered for sale: Put those leather numbers in the display window.
mathematics regarded as a science, a basic concept, and a mode of thought: Number is the basis of science.
verb (used with object)
to mark with or distinguish by numbers: Number each of the definitions.
to amount to or comprise in number; total: The manuscript already numbers 425 pages.
to consider or include in a number: I number myself among his friends.
to count over one by one; tell: to number one's blessings.
to mention individually or one by one; enumerate: They numbered the highlights of their trip at length.
to set or fix the number of; limit in number; make few in number: The sick old man's days are numbered.
to live or have lived (a number of years).
to ascertain the number of; count.
to apportion or divide: The players were numbered into two teams.
verb (used without object)
to make a total; reach an amount: Casualties numbered in the thousands.
to be numbered or included (usually followed by among or with): Several eminent scientists number among his friends.
to count.
Idioms for number
by the numbers,
according to standard procedure, rules, customs, etc.; orthodoxly; by the book: We're going to run things here by the numbers.
together or in unison to a called-out count: calisthenics by the numbers.
do a number on, Slang.
to undermine, defeat, humiliate, or criticize thoroughly: The committee really did a number on the mayor's proposal.
to discuss or discourse about, especially in an entertaining way: She could do a number on anything from dentistry to the Bomb.
do one's number,
to give a performance; perform: It's time for you to get on stage and do your number.
Slang.to behave in a predictable or customary manner: Whenever I call, he does his number about being too busy to talk.
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.
have one'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.
one's number is (was, will be) up, Slang.
one is (was, will be) in serious trouble.
one is (was, will be) on the point of death: Convinced that her number was up anyway, she refused to see doctors.
without number, of unknown or countless number; vast: stars without number.
Origin of number
First recorded in 1250–1300; 1940–45 for def. 23; (noun) Middle English, variant of nombre, from Old French, from Latin numerus; (verb) Middle English nombren, from Old French nombrer, from Latin numerāre (derivative of numerus)
SYNONYMS FOR number
1 digit, figure.
20 copy, edition.
SEE SYNONYMS FOR number ON THESAURUS.COM
synonym study for number
2. 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.
grammar notes for number
2. 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. See also collective noun.
words often confused with number
See amount,
OTHER WORDS FROM number
num·ber·a·ble,adjectivenum·ber·er,nounde·num·ber,verb (used with object)mis·num·ber,verb
pre·num·ber,verb (used with object),nounre·num·ber,verb (used with object)sub·num·ber,noun
WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH number
amount, number (see confusables note at amount)
Words nearby number
Numantian, Numa Pompilius, Numazu, numb, numbat, number, number-cruncher, number crunching, numbered account, number eight wire, numberless
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.
Former Pence aide says she will vote for Biden because of Trump’s ‘flat out disregard for human life’ during pandemic|Josh Dawsey|September 17, 2020|Washington Post
By Sunday, that number will rise to nearly 20 states, including Wisconsin, Georgia, Indiana, Virginia and Rhode Island.
Trump, in town hall, says he wouldn’t have done anything differently on pandemic|Colby Itkowitz, Josh Dawsey, Felicia Sonmez, John Wagner|September 16, 2020|Washington Post
Increasing numbers of rank-and-file Democrats are beginning to question that approach.
Frustrated House Democrats push for action on new economic relief bill|Erica Werner|September 15, 2020|Washington Post
Baron Cohen spoke to Kardashian West and helped attract a number of other celebrities, Steyer said.
Kim Kardashian, Katy Perry, and Leonardo DiCaprio plan one-day Instagram boycott. Here’s why|Danielle Abril|September 15, 2020|Fortune
The exact number of people posting the messages was not clear.
Pro-Trump youth group enlists teens in secretive campaign likened to a ‘troll farm,’ prompting rebuke by Facebook and Twitter|Isaac Stanley-Becker|September 15, 2020|Washington Post
“Our members continue to face a number of challenges,” she said.
The Republican War on Kale|Patricia Murphy|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
The number of dissenters though is unprecedented in the modern era.
Democrats Accidentally Save Boehner From Republican Coup|Ben Jacobs, Jackie Kucinich|January 6, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Starting under Theodore Roosevelt and Howard Taft, embassies headed by career diplomats increased in number.
U.S. Embassies Have Always Been for Sale|William O’Connor|January 2, 2015|DAILY BEAST
The number of diplomats was pitiful (45 appointees in 1860), as was the amount of money allocated to them.
U.S. Embassies Have Always Been for Sale|William O’Connor|January 2, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Jett sees this number as a marker of how much the president allows professionals to do the job.
U.S. Embassies Have Always Been for Sale|William O’Connor|January 2, 2015|DAILY BEAST
She composed a number of sacred legendae, in leonine or rhymed hexameters.
The Mediaeval Mind (Volume I of II)|Henry Osborn Taylor
The other two classes in this department include quite a number of our young married people.
Seven Graded Sunday Schools|Various
I confess I was almost startled on seeing them with a number of brilliant looking snakes.
On the Banks of the Amazon|W.H.G. Kingston
In 1856 the number of young persons committed for indictable offences was 14,000.
Social Transformations of the Victorian Age|T. H. S. (Thomas Hay Sweet) Escott
It is fully calculated by the packers that this number will be exceeded ten per cent in the ensuing year.
The History of Louisville, from the Earliest Settlement till the Year 1852|Ben Casseday
British Dictionary definitions for number
number
/ (ˈnʌmbə) /
noun
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 numberSee complex number, imaginary number, real number, rational number, irrational number, integer, fraction, transcendental number, algebraic number See also cardinal number, ordinal number
the symbol used to represent a number; numeral
a numeral or string of numerals used to identify a person or thing, esp in numerical ordera telephone number
the person or thing so identified or designatedshe was number seven in the race
the sum or quantity of equal or similar units or thingsa large number of people
one of a series, as of a magazine or periodical; issue
a self-contained piece of pop or jazz music
a self-contained part of an opera or other musical score, esp one for the stage
a group or band of people, esp an exclusive grouphe was not one of our number
slanga person, esp a womanwho's that nice little number?
informalan admired article, esp an item of clothing for a womanthat little number is by Dior
slanga cannabis cigaretteroll another number
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
any number ofseveral or many
by numbersmilitary(of a drill procedure, etc) performed step by step, each move being made on the call of a number
do a number on someoneUSslangto manipulate or trick someone
get someone's numberorhave someone's numberinformalto discover someone's true character or intentions
in numbersin large numbers; numerously
one's number is upBritishinformalone is finished; one is ruined or about to die
without numberorbeyond numberof too great a quantity to be counted; innumerable
verb(mainly tr)
to assign a number to
to add up to; total
(also intr)to list (items) one by one; enumerate
(also intr)to put or be put into a group, category, etcthey were numbered among the worst hit
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.
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.
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.