NUMBER

I. noun Etymology: Middle English nombre, from Anglo-French, from Latin numerus Date: 14th century 1. a. a sum of units ; total , complement 1b, an indefinite usually large total , a numerous group ; many , a numerical preponderance, b. the characteristic of an individual by which it is treated as a unit or of a collection by which it is treated in terms of units, an ascertainable total , c. a unit belonging to an abstract mathematical system and subject to specified laws of succession, addition, and multiplication, an element (as π) of any of many mathematical systems obtained by extension of or analogy with the natural ~ system, arithmetic , a distinction of word form to denote reference to one or more than one, 3. plural a. metrical structure ; meter , metrical lines ; verses, musical sounds ; notes, 4. a word, symbol, letter, or combination of symbols representing a ~, a numeral or combination of numerals or other symbols used to identify or designate , c. a member of a sequence or collection designated by especially consecutive ~s (as an issue of a periodical), a position in a ~ed sequence, a group of one kind , one singled out from a group ; individual : as, girl , woman , b. a musical, theatrical, or literary selection or production, routine , act , stunt , trick , an act of transforming or impairing , an item of merchandise and especially clothing, insight into a person's ability or character , 7. plural but singular or plural in construction a form of lottery in which an individual wagers on the appearance of a certain combination of digits (as in regularly published ~s), policy II,2a, 8. plural figures representing amounts of money usually in dollars spent, earned, or involved, b. statistics 2, rating 3c, a person represented by a ~ or considered without regard to individuality , lifetime 1a, see: amount II. verb (~ed; ~ing) Date: 14th century transitive verb count , enumerate , to claim as part of a total ; include , to restrict to a definite ~ , to assign a ~ to , to amount to in ~ ; total , intransitive verb to reach a total ~, to call off ~s in sequence, ~able adjective ~er noun