number

1. 1

   Quantity of countable things.countableuncountable

   • Any number of people can be reading from a given repository at a time.
   • There are, in addition to all the red socks, a number that don’t suit me either.
2. 2

   An abstract entity used to describe quantity.countable

   • Zero, one, −1, 2.5, and pi are all numbers.
3. 3

   A numeral: a symbol for a non-negative integer.countable

   • The number 8 is usually made with a single stroke.
4. 4

   An element of one of several sets: natural numbers, integers, rational numbers, real numbers, complex numbers, and sometimes extensions such as hypercomplex numbers, etc.countable

   • The equation e#123;i#92;pi#125;#43;1#61;0 includes the most important numbers: 1, 0, #92;pi, i, and e.
5. 5

   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.attributivecountableuncountable

   • Horse number 5 won the race.
6. 6

   A sequence of digits and letters used to register people, automobiles, and various other items.countableuncountable

   • Her passport number is C01X864TN.
   • You can take the number 8 (bus) all the way to the airport.
7. 7

   A telephone number.countableinformal

   • Let's give her a call. Do you have her number handy?
   • I'm definitely interested. Here's my number. Call me back anytime.
8. 8

   Of a word or phrase, the state of being singular, dual or plural, shown by inflection.countableuncountable

   • Adjectives and nouns should agree in gender, number, and case.
9. 9

   Poetic metres; verses, rhymes.archaiccountablein-plural

   • Griefe brought to numbers cannot be ſo fierce, / For, he tames it, that fetters it in verſe.
   • As yet a Child, nor yet a Fool to Fame, / I liſp'd in Numbers, for the Numbers came.
10. 10

    A performance; especially, a single song or song and dance routine within a larger show.countable

    • For his second number, he sang "The Moon Shines Bright".

syn. number

1. 1

   To total or count; to amount to.intransitive

   • I don’t know how many books are in the library, but they must number in the thousands.
2. 2

   To limit to a certain number; to reckon (as by fate) to be few in number.transitive

   • The old man knew that his days were numbered.
3. 3

   To count; to determine the quantity of.archaicliterarytransitive

   • The king ordered that all his subjects be numbered.
   • Who can number all the stars and who can count the desert sands?
4. 4

   To label (items) with numbers; to assign numbers to (items).transitive

   • Number the baskets so that we can find them easily.
5. 5

   To call out and assign a series of numbers (usually to people), either for the sake of dividing into groups or for counting.transitive

   • Shelley numbered off the group into two teams for the baseball game.
6. 6

   To enumerate or list, especially while assigning numbers to.transitive

   • I numbered them off on my fingers as I stated them. “First, I would redeem a small amount of my investment assets to pay off the cleared lot and come up with a down payment for the ten acres. Second, I would seek to obtain an open[…]
7. 7

   To classify or include (in a group of things).transitiveusually

   • Alexander the Great's army numbered an elite cavalry among its ranks.
8. 8

   To be classified or included (in a certain group or category of things).intransitiveusually

   • Her horses number among the fastest in her country.

1. 1

   comparative form of numb: more numbcomparativeform-of

1. 1

   Something that numbs.

syn. number