number

number or [num′bər]

n.

[ME nombre < OE < L numerus: see -NOMY]

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) [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) 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. Gram.

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 SINGULAR, DUAL NUMBER, PLURAL

10. [pl.] Obs.

a) metrical form; meter

b) metrical lines; verses

vt.

[ME nombren < OFr nombrer < L numerare, to count < numerus]

1. to total the number of persons or things in; count; enumerate

2. to give a number to; designate by number

3. to include as one of a group, class, or category [numbered among the missing]

4. to fix or limit the number or the duration of [his days are numbered]

5. to have or comprise; total [a library numbering 10,000 volumes]

vi.

1. to total; count; enumerate

2. to be numbered; be included

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a number of

an unspecified number of; several or many

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beyond number

too numerous to be counted

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☆ by the numbers

1. Mil. in prescribed sequence of movements and accompanied by a count

2. in a mechanical, unthinking way

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☆ do a number on

Slang to abuse or mistreat in some way, as by injuring, disparaging, cheating, or humiliating

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☆ have someone's number or get someone's number

Slang to discover (or know) someone's true character or motives

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someone's number is up

Slang someone's time to die or suffer punishment has arrived

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☆ the numbers

an illegal lottery in which small bets are placed on the order of certain numbers, usually the last three, in some tabulation of game scores or financial reports published in the daily newspapers: also called numbers game (or racket)

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without number

too numerous to be counted

numberer

n.