Number - Dictionary Definition and Overview

Number :  (noun)
1: the property possessed by a sum or total or indefinite quantity of units or individuals; "he had a number of chores to do"; "the number of parameters is small"; "the figure was about a thousand" [syn: figure]
2: a concept of quantity derived from zero and units; "every number has a unique position in the sequence"
3: a short theatrical performance that is part of a longer program; "he did his act three times every evening"; "she had a catchy little routine"; "it was one of the best numbers he ever did" [syn: act, routine, turn, bit]
4: a numeral or string of numerals that is used for identification; "she refused to give them her Social Security number" [syn: identification number]
5: the number is used in calling a particular telephone; "he has an unlisted number" [syn: phone number, telephone number]
6: a symbol used to represent a number; "he learned to write the numerals before he went to school" [syn: numeral]
7: one of a series published periodically; "she found an old issue of the magazine in her dentist's waitingroom" [syn: issue]
8: a select company of people; "I hope to become one of their number before I die"
9: the grammatical category for the forms of nouns and pronouns and verbs that are used depending on the number of entities involved (singular or dual or plural); "in English the subject and the verb must agree in number"
10: an item of merchandise offered for sale; "she preferred the black nylon number"; "this sweater is an all-wool number"
11: a clothing measurement; "a number 13 shoe" (verb)
1: add up in number or quantity; "The bills amounted to $2,000"; "The bill came to $2,000" [syn: total, add up, come, amount]
2: give numbers to; "You should number the pages of the thesis"
3: enumerate; "We must number the names of the great mathematicians" [syn: list]
4: put into a group; "The academy counts several Nobel Prize winners among its members" [syn: count]
5: determine the number or amount of; "Can you count the books on your shelf?"; "Count your change" [syn: count, enumerate, numerate]
6: place a limit on the number of [syn: keep down]

Based on WordNet 2.0

Number : \Num"ber\, n. [OE. nombre, F. nombre, L. numerus; akin to Gr. ? that which is dealt out, fr. ? to deal out, distribute. See Numb, Nomad, and cf. Numerate, Numero, Numerous.] 1. That which admits of being counted or reckoned; a unit, or an aggregate of units; a numerable aggregate or collection of individuals; an assemblage made up of distinct things expressible by figures.

2. A collection of many individuals; a numerous assemblage; a multitude; many.

Ladies are always of great use to the party they espouse, and never fail to win over numbers. --Addison.

3. A numeral; a word or character denoting a number; as, to put a number on a door.

4. Numerousness; multitude.

Number itself importeth not much in armies where the people are of weak courage. --Bacon.

5. The state or quality of being numerable or countable.

Of whom came nations, tribes, people, and kindreds out of number. --2 Esdras iii. 7.

6. Quantity, regarded as made up of an aggregate of separate things.

7. That which is regulated by count; poetic measure, as divisions of time or number of syllables; hence, poetry, verse; -- chiefly used in the plural.

I lisped in numbers, for the numbers came. --Pope.

8. (Gram.) The distinction of objects, as one, or more than one (in some languages, as one, or two, or more than two), expressed (usually) by a difference in the form of a word; thus, the singular number and the plural number are the names of the forms of a word indicating the objects denoted or referred to by the word as one, or as more than one.

9. (Math.) The measure of the relation between quantities or things of the same kind; that abstract species of quantity which is capable of being expressed by figures; numerical value.

Abstract number, Abundant number, Cardinal number, etc. See under Abstract, Abundant, etc.

In numbers, in numbered parts; as, a book published in numbers.

Based on Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

Number : \Num"ber\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Numbered; p. pr & vb. n. Numbering.] [OE. nombren, noumbren, F. nombrer, fr. L. numerare, numeratum. See Number, n.] 1. To count; to reckon; to ascertain the units of; to enumerate.

If a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered. --Gen. xiii. 16.

2. To reckon as one of a collection or multitude.

He was numbered with the transgressors. --Is. liii. 12.

3. To give or apply a number or numbers to; to assign the place of in a series by order of number; to designate the place of by a number or numeral; as, to number the houses in a street, or the apartments in a building.

4. To amount; to equal in number; to contain; to consist of; as, the army numbers fifty thousand.

Thy tears can not number the dead. --Campbell.

Numbering machine, a machine for printing consecutive numbers, as on railway tickets, bank bills, etc.

Syn: To count; enumerate; calculate; tell.

Based on Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

NUMBER. A collection of units. 2. In pleading, numbers must be stated truly, when alleged in the recital of a record, written instrument, or express contract. Lawes' PI. 48; 4 T. R. 314; Cro. Car. 262; Dougl. 669; 2 Bl. Rep. 1104. But in other cases, it is not in general requisite that they should be truly stated, because they are not required to be strictly proved. If, for example, in an action of trespass the plaintiff proves the wrongful taking away of any part of the goods duly described in his declaration, he is entitled to recover pro tanto. Bac. Ab. Trespass, I 2 Lawes' PI. 48. 3. And sometimes, when the subject to be described is supposed to comprehend a multiplicity of particulars, a general description is sufficient. A declaration in trover alleging the conversion of "a library of books"' without stating their number, titles, or quality, was held 'to be sufficiently certain; 3 Bulst. 31; Carth. 110; Bac. Ab. Trover, F 1; and in an action for the loss of goods, by burning the plaintiff's house, the articles may be described by the simple denomination of "goods" or "divers goods." 1 Keb. 825; Plowd. 85, 118, 123; Cro. Eliz. 837; 1 H. Bl. 284.

Based on Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Example Usage of Number

cwood87: Fully supports RATM knocking the talentless knobjockeys off the christmas Number one, futile excercise but nonetheless amusing.
ERose13: @Redeyedkira Well how about direct messaging me the new phone Number? Please and thank you
danfruhauf: @DarkKnight47 yo call this Number seriously, 516-734-1177
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