number
noun OPAL WOPAL S
  /ˈnʌmbə(r)/
  /ˈnʌmbər/
Idioms - [countable] a word or symbol that represents an amount or a quantity synonym figure
- Think of a number and multiply it by two.
 - a high/low number
 - even numbers (= 2, 4, 6, etc.)
 - odd numbers (= 1, 3, 5, etc.)
 - You owe me 27 dollars? Make it 30, that's a good round number.
 
Extra ExamplesTopics Maths and measurementa1- Add all the numbers together, divide by ten, and then take away twelve.
 - Houses on this side of the road have even numbers.
 - Many people think 13 is an unlucky number.
 - the winning numbers in tonight's lottery
 - That's quite a high number— think of a lower one.
 
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- three-digit
 - 16-digit
 - cardinal
 - …
 
- calculate
 - add
 - add together
 - …
 
- in round numbers
 - number crunching
 
 - [countable](abbreviation No.)(symbol #)used before a figure to show the position of something in a series
- They live at number 26.
 - The song reached number 5 in the charts.
 
 - [countable] (often in compounds) a set of figures that is used to identify something or communicate by phone, etc.
- Ask for the customer's name and phone number.
 - Customers can reach us by calling an 0800 number (= a free phone number in the UK).
 - I'm sorry, I think you have the wrong number (= wrong phone number).
 - Call this number and ask to speak to John.
 - What is your account number, please?
 - Can I have your credit card number?
 - Please give your landline and mobile phone numbers.
 
Extra ExamplesTopics Phones, email and the interneta1- They exchanged numbers and agreed to go out for a drink one evening.
 - What is your social security number, please?
 - He dialled the number, then changed his mind and hung up.
 
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- fax
 - phone
 - telephone
 - …
 
- call
 - dial
 - phone
 - …
 
- be busy
 - be engaged
 - be unobtainable
 - …
 
- exchange numbers
 - somebody’s name and number
 
 - [countable] a quantity of people or things
- number of somebody/something A large number of people have applied for the job.
 - In a small number of cases the illness is fatal.
 - The number of homeless people has increased dramatically.
 - The total number of students has doubled in the last six years.
 - Huge numbers of (= very many) animals have died.
 - A number of (= some) problems have arisen.
 - I could give you any number of (= a lot of) reasons for not going.
 - Use a pedometer to count the number of steps you take.
 - Our aim is to reduce the number of road accidents.
 - This year we have increased the number of events from six to ten.
 - in number We were eight in number (= there were eight of us).
 - Nurses are leaving the profession in increasing numbers.
 - Sheer weight of numbers (= the large number of soldiers) secured them the victory.
 - The course will have to be repeated owing to pressure of numbers (= too many students).
 - staff/student numbers
 
Extra Examples- Staff numbers were reduced because of budget cuts.
 - Anna counted the number of men standing around outside.
 - Conference organizers put the number of attendees at around 500.
 - Factories had increased in number between the wars.
 - Many people have died in the epidemic—the precise number is not known.
 - Shark numbers have dwindled as a result of hunting.
 - The candidates received an equal number of votes.
 - The decline in numbers of young people means that fewer teachers will be needed.
 - The paintings, twelve in number, are over 200 years old.
 - We've had a fair number of complaints about the new phone system.
 
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- big
 - high
 - low
 - …
 
- grow in
 - increase in
 - decrease in
 - …
 
- go up
 - grow
 - increase
 - …
 
- in number
 - number of
 
- a decline in numbers
 - a drop in numbers
 - a growth in numbers
 - …
 
 - [singular] (formal) a group or quantity of people
- one of our number (= one of us)
 - The prime minister is elected by MPs from among their number.
 
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- big
 - high
 - low
 - …
 
- grow in
 - increase in
 - decrease in
 - …
 
- go up
 - grow
 - increase
 - …
 
- in number
 - number of
 
- a decline in numbers
 - a drop in numbers
 - a growth in numbers
 - …
 
 - [countable] (British English) the version of a magazine, etc. published on a particular day, in a particular month, etc. synonym issue
- the October number of ‘Vogue’
 - The back numbers of ‘The Times’ were kept in a basement.
 
 - [countable] a song or dance, especially one of several in a performance
- They sang a slow romantic number.
 
 - [singular] (informal) (following one or more adjectives) a thing, such as a dress or a car, that is admired
- She was wearing a black velvet number.
 
 - [uncountable] the form of a word, showing whether one or more than one person or thing is being talked about
- The word ‘men’ is plural in number.
 - The subject of a sentence and its verb must agree in number.
 
 
word/symbol
position in series
telephone, etc.
quantity
group of people
magazine
song/dance
thing admired
grammar
Word OriginMiddle English: from Old French nombre (noun), nombrer (verb), from Latin numerus.
Idioms 
by numbers 
- following a set of simple instructions identified by numbers
- painting by numbers
 
 
by the numbers 
- (North American English) following closely the accepted rules for doing something
 
a cushy number 
- (British English) an easy job; a pleasant situation that other people would like
- It’s all right for him—he’s got a very cushy number.
 
 
have (got) somebody’s number 
- (informal) to know what somebody is really like and what they plan to do
- He thinks he can fool me but I've got his number.
 
 
your number is up 
- (informal) the time has come when you will die or lose everything
 
numbers game 
- a way of considering an activity, etc. that considers only the number of people doing something, things achieved, etc., not with who or what they are
- MPs were playing the numbers game as the crucial vote drew closer.
 
 
your opposite number 
- (informal) a person who does the same job as you in another organization
- The Foreign Secretary is currently having talks with his opposite number in the White House.
 
 
there’s safety in numbers 
- (saying) being in a group makes you safer and makes you feel more confident                                     
 
there's strength in numbers 
- (saying) being in a group gives you more power
- There's strength in numbers, so encourage your friends and family to join us.
 
 
weight of numbers 
- the combined power, strength or influence of a group
- They won the argument by sheer weight of numbers.