I. ˈnəm-bər noun
Etymology: Middle English nombre, from Anglo-French, from Latin numerus
Date: 14th century
1.
a.
(1) : a sum of units : total
(2) : complement 1b
(3) : an indefinite usually large total
a number of members were absent
the number of elderly is rising
(4) plural : a numerous group : many
(5) : a numerical preponderance
b.
(1) : 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
(2) : an ascertainable total
bugs beyond number
c.
(1) : a unit belonging to an abstract mathematical system and subject to specified laws of succession, addition, and multiplication ; especially : natural number
(2) : an element (as π) of any of many mathematical systems obtained by extension of or analogy with the natural number system
(3) plural : arithmetic
2. : a distinction of word form to denote reference to one or more than one ; also : a form or group of forms so distinguished
3. plural
a.
(1) : metrical structure : meter
(2) : metrical lines : verses
b. archaic : musical sounds : notes
4.
a. : a word, symbol, letter, or combination of symbols representing a number
b. : a numeral or combination of numerals or other symbols used to identify or designate
dialed the wrong number
c.
(1) : a member of a sequence or collection designated by especially consecutive numbers (as an issue of a periodical)
(2) : a position in a numbered sequence
d. : a group of one kind
not of their number
5. : one singled out from a group : individual : as
a. : girl , woman
met an attractive number at the dance
b.
(1) : a musical, theatrical, or literary selection or production
(2) : routine , act
c. : stunt , trick
d. : an act of transforming or impairing
tripped and did a number on her knee
e. : an item of merchandise and especially clothing
6. : insight into a person's ability or character
had my number
7. plural but singular or plural in construction
a. : a form of lottery in which an individual wagers on the appearance of a certain combination of digits (as in regularly published numbers) — called also numbers game
b. : policy II,2a
8. plural
a. : figures representing amounts of money usually in dollars spent, earned, or involved
b.
(1) : statistics 2 ; especially : individual statistics (as of an athlete)
(2) : rating 3c
9. : a person represented by a number or considered without regard to individuality
at the university I was just a number
10. : lifetime 1a — used with up
the old feeling that comes to men in combat…that your number was up — Geoffrey Norman
Usage: see amount
•
- by the numbers
II. verb
( num·bered ; num·ber·ing -b(ə-)riŋ)
Date: 14th century
transitive verb
1. : count , enumerate
2. : to claim as part of a total : include
3. : to restrict to a definite number
your days are number ed
4. : to assign a number to
number the pages
5. : to amount to in number : total
the crew number s 100
intransitive verb
1. : to reach a total number
2. : to call off numbers in sequence
• num·ber·able -b(ə-)rə-bəl adjective
• num·ber·er -bər-ər noun