number
verb
- to take a count of, apply or give numbers to
- to have a specific quantity
noun
- mathematical object used to count, label, and measure
- structural element of artistic performance
Wiktionary
Pronunciation: /ˈnʌmə/ / /ˈnʌmɚ/ / /ˈnʌmbər/ / [ˈnʌmbə] / [ˈnʌ̟mbɚ]
adj
Etymology: From numb (adjective) + -er.
- comparative form of numb: more numb
noun
Etymology: Equivalent to numb (verb) + -er
- Something that numbs.
verb
Etymology: Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *nem- Proto-Italic *nomezos Latin numerus Anglo-Norman noumbrebor. Middle English nombre English number Inherited from Middle English number, nombre, numbre, noumbre, from Anglo-Norman noumbre, Old French nombre, from Latin numerus (“number”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *nem- (“to divide”). Compare Saterland Frisian Nummer, Nuumer, West Frisian nûmer, Dutch nummer (“number”), German Nummer (“number”), Danish nummer (“number”), Swedish nummer (“number”), Icelandic númer (“number”). Replaced Middle English ȝetæl and rime, more at tell, tale and rhyme.
- To total or count; to amount to.
“I don’t know how many books are in the library, but they must number in the thousands.”
“Do they number in the hundreds, do they number in the thousands? Do they number in the tens of thousand?”
- To limit to a certain number; to reckon (as by fate) to be few in number.
“The old man knew that his days were numbered.”
“THE DAYS OF ENGLAND NOT “NUMBERED.” REPLY TO SIR ARCHIBALD ALISON.”
- To count; to determine the quantity of.
“The king ordered that all his subjects be numbered.”
“Who can number all the stars and who can count the desert sands?”
- To label (items) with numbers; to assign numbers to (items).
“Number the baskets so that we can find them easily.”
““Public Health Service Numbered Publications – A Catalog, 1950-1962” and contains those numbered publications issued during the period 1963-64.”
- To call out and assign a series of numbers (usually to people), either for the sake of dividing into groups or for counting.
“Shelley numbered off the group into two teams for the baseball game.”
“I counted them and numbered them off, and I found about three hundred and seventy or three hundred and seventy-five.”
- To enumerate or list, especially while assigning numbers to.
“I numbered them off on my fingers as I stated them. “First, I would redeem a small amount of my investment assets to pay off the cleared lot and come up with a down payment for the ten acres. Second, I would seek to obtain an open[…]”
- To classify or include (in a group of things)
“Alexander the Great's army numbered an elite cavalry among its ranks.”
“We fools counted their life madness, and their end to be without honour: how are they numbered among the children of God, and their lot is among the Saints!”
- To be classified or included (in a certain group or category of things).
“Her horses number among the fastest in her country.”
“They number among our best people, particularly when we realise that they are models for what the rest of us might also achieve.”