# number

Pronunciation: US say "NUM-bur" /ˈnʌmbɚ/; UK say "NUM-buh" /ˈnʌmbə/

## Noun

1. An amount or total of something; a quantity, including a large quantity seen as a source of strength.
   - Simple: How many people or things there are.
   - _A surprising number of guests arrived early._
   - _The number of applications doubled this year._
2. An arithmetical value used in counting and calculation, such as 7, 250 or the square root of two, or the word or symbol that stands for it.
   - Simple: A value such as 1, 2 or 100, or the sign we write for it, used for counting and doing sums.
   - _Pick a number between one and a hundred, and I'll try to guess it._
   - _Any number multiplied by zero equals zero._
3. Used before a numeral to indicate the position of something in a list or sequence.
   - Simple: Used before a figure such as one or twelve to show where something comes in a list or order.
   - _The committee approved item number seven on the agenda._
   - _She ranked as number two in her graduating class._
4. A sequence of digits, sometimes with letters, used to identify and register people, automobiles and other items.
   - Simple: A set of digits, sometimes with letters, used to record and identify people, cars and other things.
   - _The clerk entered the patient's identification number into the system._
   - _Every shipment carries a tracking number for the warehouse._
5. The sequence of digits dialed to reach a particular telephone.
   - Simple: The set of digits you dial to reach someone on a phone.
   - _She gave me her number at the party._
   - _He saved the new number under a nickname._
6. Figures or statistics showing how someone or something is performing, such as sales, poll ratings, or results; usually used in the plural.
   - Simple: Figures that show how well someone or something is doing, like sales or how many people like a leader. Usually plural.
   - _The senator's poll numbers have slipped since the debate._
   - _Markets rallied after the inflation number for September came in lower than forecast._
8. A single song, dance or piece of music performed as one part of a larger show or concert.
   - Simple: A single song or dance done as one part of a bigger show.
   - _The cast opened with a lively dance number._
   - _He forgot his lines during the second number._
11. A group of people, especially one thought of as a body to which particular people belong.
   - Simple: A group of people that someone belongs to or is counted among.
   - _Three of their number were elected to the city council last fall._
   - _The committee chose its new chair from among its own number._
12. The grammatical property of a word or phrase showing whether it is singular, dual, or plural, marked by inflection.
   - Simple: Whether a word stands for one thing or more than one, shown by its form.
   - _Verbs in English agree with their subject in number._
   - _Some languages mark a dual number distinct from the plural._
13. An outfit, particularly a stylish or eye-catching one. *(colloquial)*
   - Simple: A piece of clothing or an outfit, especially a stylish one.
   - _She showed up in a slinky velvet number that turned heads._
   - _He bought an expensive designer number for the gala._
14. A person, especially a notable, attractive, or distinctive one. *(colloquial)*
   - Simple: A person, often one who stands out in some way.
   - _He married a lively number from the coast._
   - _The boss is a tough number to deal with._
15. A job, assignment, or activity, especially an easy or desirable one. *(colloquial, UK)*
   - Simple: A job or task, especially an easy or pleasant one.
   - _Editing the weekend column turned out to be a pretty soft number._
   - _She found herself a cushy number at the front desk._
18. A joint, a cigarette rolled with marijuana; also, some marijuana bought from a dealer. *(slang, US)*
   - Simple: A marijuana cigarette, or some marijuana bought from a dealer.
   - _She lit a number on the back porch after work._
   - _He scored a number off his usual dealer that night._

## Verb

7. To give a number to each of a series of things or people, in writing or aloud.
   - Simple: To give each thing or person in a group its own number, one after another.
   - _Volunteers number each box so nothing gets lost._
   - _The editor numbered the chapters in sequence._
9. To include, or be included, as one of a particular group or category.
   - Simple: To be one of a group, or to think of someone as one of a group.
   - _Few films number among the true classics of the genre._
   - _He numbers among the founders of the entire movement._
10. To amount to a total; to add up to a given count.
   - Simple: To add up to a total amount.
   - _The protesters numbered in the tens of thousands._
   - _The colony's ants number in the millions._
16. To limit to a certain quantity; to reckon, as if by fate, to be few in number.
   - Simple: To limit something to a small fixed amount, as if its end is already decided.
   - _Once the new mall opened, the little corner bookshop knew its days were numbered._
   - _Everyone in the office knew the old manager's days were numbered after the merger._

## Noun

17. A single issue of a periodical publication, such as a magazine or journal. *(dated)*
   - Simple: One issue of a magazine or newspaper that comes out regularly.
   - _The April number of the literary review featured three new poets._
   - _Subscribers received the first number of the magazine in 1887._
20. Poetic meter; verses and rhymes regarded as measured arrangements of sound. *(archaic)*
   - Simple: Lines of poetry, especially ones with a steady beat and rhyme.

## Verb

19. To count; to determine the total quantity of something. *(archaic)*
   - Simple: To count something to find out how many there are.
   - _Who can number the grains of sand upon the shore?_
   - _The shepherd numbered his flock at dusk each evening._

## Origin

It comes from Middle English via Anglo-Norman and Old French "nombre," from Latin "numerus" ("number"), ultimately from a Proto-Indo-European root meaning "to divide." It replaced the older Middle English words for the concept.

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/number (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).