■ noun
1》 an arithmetical value, expressed by a word, symbol, or figure, representing a particular quantity.
2》 a quantity or amount.
↘( a ~ of ) several.
↘( ~s ) a large quantity or amount; numerical preponderance.
3》 chiefly Brit. a single issue of a magazine.
4》 a song, dance, or other musical item.
5》 informal an item of clothing of a particular type: a little black ~.
6》 a grammatical classification of words that consists typically of singular and plural.
■ verb
1》 amount to.
2》 assign a ~ to.
↘count.
3》 include as a member of a group.
Phrases
by ~s following simple instructions identified or as if identified by ~s.
someone's (or something's ) days are ~ed someone or something will not survive or remain in power for much longer.
do a ~ on N. Amer. informal deceive or disparage.
have someone's ~ informal understand a person's real motives or character.
one's ~ is up informal one is doomed to die or suffer some other disaster or setback. [with ref. to a lottery ~ or a ~ by which one may be identified.]
without ~ too many to count.
Derivatives
~less adjective
Origin
ME: from OFr. nombre (n.), nombrer (v.), from L. numerus .
Usage
The construction the ~ of + plural noun is used with a singular verb (as in the ~ of people affected remains small ). By contrast, the apparently similar construction a ~ of + plural noun is used with a plural verb (as in a ~ of people remain to be contacted ).