Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense numbers, present participle numbering, past tense, past participle numbered
1. countable noun
A number is a word such as 'two', 'nine', or 'twelve', or a symbol such as 1, 3, or 47. You use numbers to say how many things you are referring to or where something comes in a series.
No, I don't know the room number.
Stan Laurel was born at number 3, Argyll Street.
The number 47 bus leaves in 10 minutes.
2. countable noun [adjective NOUN]
You use number with words such as 'large' or 'small' to say approximately how many things or people there are.
Quite a considerable number of interviews are going on. [+ of]
I have had an enormous number of letters from single parents. [+ of]
Growing numbers of people in the rural areas are too frightened to vote. [+ of]
Synonyms: amount, quantity, collection, total More Synonyms of number
3. singular noun
If there are anumberof things or people, there are several of them. If there are anynumberof things or people, there is a large quantity of them.
I seem to remember that Sam told a number of lies. [+ of]
There must be any number of people in my position. [+ of]
Synonyms: several, a few, various More Synonyms of number
4. uncountable noun
You can refer to someone's or something's position in a list of the most successful or most popular of a particular type of thing as, for example, number one or number two.
...the 19-year-old Norwegian who is already ranked world number one.
Before you knew it, the single was at Number 90 in the U.S. singles charts.
His book is number two in the best-seller lists.
5. verb
If a group of people or things numbers a particular total, that is how many there are.
They told me that their village numbered 100. [V num]
This time the dead were numbered in hundreds, not dozens. [beVERB-ed + in]
[Also V n + in]
Synonyms: amount to, come to, total, add up to More Synonyms of number
6. countable noun
A number is the series of numbers that you dial when you are making a phone call.
Sarah sat down and dialled a number.
...a list of names and phone numbers.
My number is 414-3925.
'You must have a wrong number,' she said. 'There's no one of that name here'.
7. countable noun
You can refer to a short piece of music, a song, or a dance as a number.
...'Unforgettable', a number that was written and performed in 1951.
Responsibility for the dance numbers was split between Robert Alton and the youngGeorge Balanchine.
8. verb
If someone or something is numberedamong a particular group, they are believed to belong in that group.
[formal]
The Leicester Swannington Railway is numbered among Britain's railway pioneers. [beV-ed + among]
He numbered several Americans among his friends. [V n + among]
Synonyms: include, count More Synonyms of number
9. verb
If you number something, you mark it with a number, usually starting at 1.
He cut his paper up into tiny squares, and he numbered each one. [VERB noun]
Each factor has been numbered. [VERB noun]
10. See also opposite number, prime number, serial number
11.
See someone's days are numbered
12.
See one of sb's number
13.
See the numbers game/racket
14. See also numbers game
15. safety in numbers
More Synonyms of number
English Easy Learning GrammarNumber in nounsSingular number is used when the noun refers to one item. Plural number is used whenthe noun refers to more than one item. Countable nouns have both singular ... Read more
English Easy Learning GrammarNumbersThere are two common kinds of number: Cardinal numbers are used in all forms of counting that involve a total. one chair two chairs a hundred people ten ... Read more
English Easy Learning GrammarParts of speechSentences are made up of words. A sentence can be made up of any number of words. He left us. The man in the corner lowered his newspaper. Whenever I see ... Read more
number in British English
(ˈnʌmbə)
noun
1.
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 number
complex number, imaginary number, real number, rational number, irrational number, integer, fraction, transcendental number, algebraic number, See also cardinal number, ordinal number
2.
the symbol used to represent a number; numeral
3.
a numeral or string of numerals used to identify a person or thing, esp in numerical order
a telephone number
4.
the person or thing so identified or designated
she was number seven in the race
5.
the sum or quantity of equal or similar units or things
a large number of people
6.
one of a series, as of a magazine or periodical; issue
7.
a.
a self-contained piece of pop or jazz music
b.
a self-contained part of an opera or other musical score, esp one for the stage
8.
a group or band of people, esp an exclusive group
he was not one of our number
9. slang, sometimes offensive
a person, esp a woman
who's that nice little number?
10. informal
an admired article, esp an item of clothing for a woman
that little number is by Dior
11. slang
a cannabis cigarette
roll another number
12.
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
13. any number of
14. by numbers
15. do a number on someone
16. get someone's number
17. in numbers
18. one's number is up
19. without number
verb(mainly tr)
20.
to assign a number to
21.
to add up to; total
22. (also intr)
to list (items) one by one; enumerate
23. (also intr)
to put or be put into a group, category, etc
they were numbered among the worst hit
24.
to limit the number of
his days were numbered
Word origin
C13: from Old French nombre, from Latin numerus
number in American English
(ˈnʌmbər)
noun
1.
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
2. [pl.]
arithmetic
3.
the sum or total of persons or units; aggregate
4. [with pl. v.]
a collection of persons or things; company; assemblage
a small number of people
5.
a. [often pl.]
a large group; many
cut down numbers of trees
b. [pl.]
numerical superiority
safety in numbers
c. US; [pl.]
statistics, ratings, etc.
the pitcher's salary will be based on last year's numbers
6.
quantity, as consisting of units
a number of errors
7.
one of a series or group that is numbered or thought of as numbered
; specif.,
a.
a single issue of a periodical
the winter number of a quarterly
b.
a single song, dance, skit, etc. in a program of entertainment
c. US, Slang
a pattern of behavior or thought, esp. one characteristic of a particular individual, group,etc.
8. Informal
a person or thing singled out
this hat is a smart number
see also opposite number
9. Grammar
a.
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
b.
the form a word takes to indicate this characteristic
c.
any of the sets of such forms
see also singular, dual number, plural
10. [pl.]; Obsolete
a.
metrical form; meter
b.
metrical lines; verses
verb transitive
11.
to total the number of persons or things in; count; enumerate
12.
to give a number to; designate by number
13.
to include as one of a group, class, or category
numbered among the missing
14.
to fix or limit the number or the duration of
his days are numbered
15.
to have or comprise; total
a library numbering 10,000 volumes
verb intransitive
16.
to total; count; enumerate
17.
to be numbered; be included
Idioms:
a number of
beyond number
by the numbers
do a number on
get (or have) someone's number
someone's number is up
the numbers
without number
Derived forms
numberer (ˈnumberer)
noun
Word origin
ME nombre < OE < L numerus: see -nomy
More idioms containing
number
a back number
do a number on someone
have someone's number
look after number one
someone's number is up
COBUILD Collocations
number
certain number
high number
infinite number
low number
record number
sheer number
similar number
small number
substantial number
sufficient number
Examples of 'number' in a sentence
number
The telephone numbers of councillors are plastered on the window.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
These printed electronics could have any number of uses.
Smithsonian Mag (2017)
The aim of raising the salary threshold is to cut the number of visas granted.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
He says a number of the funds closed to new business because they were in no position to take on fresh liabilities.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
First, though, he had a song and dance number to get off his chest.
The Sun (2017)
One said: 'There are a number of people on set who think it is quite insensitive to air something like this.
The Sun (2016)
The headline numbers suggest that people are divided over staying or leaving.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
There are wonderful dance numbers and spectacular new songs.
The Sun (2013)
Please include your address and daytime telephone number.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
He trusted that the world number one would spot the winning tactic.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
The total number of aircraft would remain the same.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
This will cut the number of students by as much as a quarter.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
But small group numbers are virtually meaningless in most small churches.
Christianity Today (2000)
In fact the largest of these numbers is the sum of the other three.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Horse number two on a race card can win for you.
The Sun (2010)
There are probably a large number of factors that contribute to this trend.
Siann, Gerda & Ugwuegbu, Denis C. E. Educational Psychology in a Changing World (1988)
Let us put some numbers into our example.
Charles A. D'Ambrosio & Stewart D. Hodges & Richard Brealey & Stewart Myers Principles of Corporate Finance (1991)
This number must not be allowed to rise.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Our poet would also have liked the numbered list.
The Times Literary Supplement (2010)
Class components can be used for a number of similar tasks but do not apply to all tasks.
Pressley, Michael & McCormick, Christine Advanced Educational Psychology For Educators, Researchers and Policymakers, (1995)
Many focus on a limited number of high priorities and we already have a big agenda to raise academic standards.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
The bald numbers say it all.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
A spokesman said: 'There are a number of possibilities.
The Sun (2012)
In other languages
number
British English: number /ˈnʌmbə/ NOUN
A number is a word such as `two', `nine', or `twelve', or a symbol such as 1, 3, or 47, which is used in counting something.
I don't know the room number.
American English: number
Arabic: رَقَمٌ
Brazilian Portuguese: número
Chinese: 数字
Croatian: broj
Czech: číslo
Danish: tal
Dutch: nummer
European Spanish: número
Finnish: numero
French: numéro
German: Zahl
Greek: αριθμός
Italian: numero
Japanese: 数
Korean: 번호
Norwegian: tall
Polish: liczba
European Portuguese: número
Romanian: număr
Russian: число
Latin American Spanish: número
Swedish: siffra
Thai: ตัวเลข
Turkish: sayı
Ukrainian: цифра
Vietnamese: số
Chinese translation of 'number'
number
(ˈnʌmbəʳ)
n
(c) (Math) 数(數) (shù) (个(個), gè)
⇒ Think of a number between one and ten.在1至10之间想一个数。 (Zài yī zhì shí zhījiān xiǎng yī gè shù.)