number
♦♦♦ num|ber /n'ʌmbər/ (numbers numbering numbered)
1 [N-COUNT] usu with supp
A number is a word such as `two', `nine', or `twelve', or a symbol such as 1, 3, or 47. You use numbers to say how many things you are referring to or where something comes in a series.
No, I don't know the room number...
Stan Laurel was born at number 3, Argyll Street...
The number 47 bus leaves in 10 minutes.
2 [N-COUNT] adj N, usu N of n
You use number with words such as `large' or `small' to say approximately how many things or people there are.
Quite a considerable number of interviews are going on...
I have had an enormous number of letters from single parents...
Growing numbers of people in the rural areas are too frightened to vote.
3 [N-SING] a/any N, usu N of n
If there are a number of things or people, there are several of them. If there are any number of things or people, there is a large quantity of them.
I seem to remember that Sam told a number of lies...
There must be any number of people in my position.
4 [N-UNCOUNT] N num
You can refer to someone's or something's position in a list of the most successful or most popular of a particular type of thing as, for example, number one or number two.
...the world number one, Tiger Woods...
Before you knew it, the single was at Number 90 in the US singles charts...
5 [VERB] V num, be V-ed in num, also V n in num
If a group of people or things numbers a particular total, that is how many there are.
They told me that their village numbered 100...
This time the dead were numbered in hundreds, not dozens.
6 [N-COUNT]
A number is the series of numbers that you dial when you are making a telephone call.
Sarah sat down and dialled a number.
...a list of names and telephone numbers...
My number is 414-3925...
`You must have a wrong number,' she said. `There's no one of that name here.'
7 [N-COUNT]
You can refer to a short piece of music, a song, or a dance as a number.
...`Unforgettable', a number that was written and performed in 1951...
Responsibility for the dance numbers was split between Robert Alton and the young George Balanchine.
8 [VERB] be V-ed among n, V n among n
If someone or something is numbered among a particular group, they are believed to belong in that group. (FORMAL)
The Leicester Swannington Railway is numbered among Britain's railway pioneers...
He numbered several Americans among his friends.
9 [VERB] V n
If you number something, you mark it with a number, usually starting at 1.
He cut his paper up into tiny squares, and he numbered each one...
10
see also opposite number, prime number,
11 [PHRASE] V inflects, with poss
If you say that someone's or something's days are numbered, you mean that they will not survive or be successful for much longer.
Critics believe his days are numbered because audiences are tired of watching him.
12 [PHRASE]
If you refer to the numbers game, the numbers racket, or the numbers, you are referring to an illegal lottery or illegal betting. (AM)
see also numbers game
13
safety in numbers: see safetyback num|ber (back numbers)
[N-COUNT]
A back number of a magazine or newspaper is the same as a back issue.box num|ber (box numbers)
[N-COUNT]
A box number is a number used as an address, for example one given by a newspaper for replies to a private advertisement, or one used by an organization for the letters sent to it.car|di|nal num|ber (cardinal numbers)
[N-COUNT]
A cardinal number is a number such as 1, 3, or 10 that tells you how many things there are in a group but not what order they are in. Compare ordinal number.E num|ber /'iː nʌmbər/ (E numbers)
[N-COUNT]
E numbers are artificial substances which are added to some foods and drinks to improve their flavour or colour or to make them last longer. They are called E numbers because they are represented in Europe by code names which begin with the letter `E'. (BRIT)li|cense num|ber (license numbers)
[N-COUNT]
The license number of a car or other road vehicle is the series of letters and numbers that are shown at the front and back of it. (AM; in BRIT, use registration number)num|ber crunch|er (number crunchers)
[N-COUNT] usu pl
If you refer to number crunchers, you mean people whose jobs involve dealing with numbers or mathematical calculations, for example in finance or statistics. (INFORMAL)
Even if the recovery is under way, it may be some time before the official number crunchers confirm it.num|ber crunch|ing
[N-UNCOUNT] oft N n
If you refer to number crunching, you mean activities or processes concerned with numbers or mathematical calculation, for example in finance, statistics, or computing. (INFORMAL)
The computer does most of the number crunching.num|ber one (number ones)
1 [ADJ] ADJ n
Number one means better, more important, or more popular than anything else of its kind. (INFORMAL)
The economy is the number one issue by far...
By the way, I'm your number-one fan.
2 [N-COUNT]
In popular music, the number one is the best selling CD in any one week, or the group or person who has made that CD. (INFORMAL)
Paula is the only artist to achieve four number ones from a debut album.num|ber plate (number plates)
also numberplate
[N-COUNT]
A number plate is a sign on the front and back of a vehicle that shows its registration number. (BRIT; in AM, use license plate)
He drove a Rolls-Royce with a personalised number plate.op|po|site num|ber (opposite numbers)
[N-COUNT] usu poss N
Your opposite number is a person who has the same job or rank as you, but works in a different department, firm, or organization. (JOURNALISM)
The French Defence Minister is to visit Japan later this month for talks with his Japanese opposite number...
= counterpartor|di|nal num|ber /'ɔːrdɪnəl n'ʌmbər/ (ordinal numbers)
[N-COUNT]
An ordinal number or an ordinal is a word such as `first', `third', and `tenth' that tells you where a particular thing occurs in a sequence of things. Compare cardinal number.prime num|ber (prime numbers)
[N-COUNT]
In mathematics, a prime number is a whole number greater than 1 that cannot be divided exactly by any whole number except itself and the number 1, for example 17.reg|is|tra|tion num|ber (registration numbers)
[N-COUNT]
The registration number or the registration of a car or other road vehicle is the series of letters and numbers that are shown at the front and back of it. (BRIT; in AM, use license number)
Another driver managed to get the registration number of the car.se|rial num|ber (serial numbers)
1 [N-COUNT] oft with poss
The serial number of an object is a number on that object which identifies it.
...the gun's serial number.
...your bike's serial number...
2 [N-COUNT]
The serial number of a member of the United States military forces is a number which identifies them.tele|phone num|ber (telephone numbers)
[N-COUNT]
Your telephone number is the number that other people dial when they want to talk to you on the telephone.
= phone numberwhole num|ber (whole numbers)
[N-COUNT]
A whole number is an exact number such as 1, 7, and 24, as opposed to a number with fractions or decimals.
= integer
1 [N-COUNT] usu with supp
A number is a word such as `two', `nine', or `twelve', or a symbol such as 1, 3, or 47. You use numbers to say how many things you are referring to or where something comes in a series.
No, I don't know the room number...
Stan Laurel was born at number 3, Argyll Street...
The number 47 bus leaves in 10 minutes.
2 [N-COUNT] adj N, usu N of n
You use number with words such as `large' or `small' to say approximately how many things or people there are.
Quite a considerable number of interviews are going on...
I have had an enormous number of letters from single parents...
Growing numbers of people in the rural areas are too frightened to vote.
3 [N-SING] a/any N, usu N of n
If there are a number of things or people, there are several of them. If there are any number of things or people, there is a large quantity of them.
I seem to remember that Sam told a number of lies...
There must be any number of people in my position.
4 [N-UNCOUNT] N num
You can refer to someone's or something's position in a list of the most successful or most popular of a particular type of thing as, for example, number one or number two.
...the world number one, Tiger Woods...
Before you knew it, the single was at Number 90 in the US singles charts...
5 [VERB] V num, be V-ed in num, also V n in num
If a group of people or things numbers a particular total, that is how many there are.
They told me that their village numbered 100...
This time the dead were numbered in hundreds, not dozens.
6 [N-COUNT]
A number is the series of numbers that you dial when you are making a telephone call.
Sarah sat down and dialled a number.
...a list of names and telephone numbers...
My number is 414-3925...
`You must have a wrong number,' she said. `There's no one of that name here.'
7 [N-COUNT]
You can refer to a short piece of music, a song, or a dance as a number.
...`Unforgettable', a number that was written and performed in 1951...
Responsibility for the dance numbers was split between Robert Alton and the young George Balanchine.
8 [VERB] be V-ed among n, V n among n
If someone or something is numbered among a particular group, they are believed to belong in that group. (FORMAL)
The Leicester Swannington Railway is numbered among Britain's railway pioneers...
He numbered several Americans among his friends.
9 [VERB] V n
If you number something, you mark it with a number, usually starting at 1.
He cut his paper up into tiny squares, and he numbered each one...
10
see also opposite number, prime number,
11 [PHRASE] V inflects, with poss
If you say that someone's or something's days are numbered, you mean that they will not survive or be successful for much longer.
Critics believe his days are numbered because audiences are tired of watching him.
12 [PHRASE]
If you refer to the numbers game, the numbers racket, or the numbers, you are referring to an illegal lottery or illegal betting. (AM)
see also numbers game
13
safety in numbers: see safetyback num|ber (back numbers)
[N-COUNT]
A back number of a magazine or newspaper is the same as a back issue.box num|ber (box numbers)
[N-COUNT]
A box number is a number used as an address, for example one given by a newspaper for replies to a private advertisement, or one used by an organization for the letters sent to it.car|di|nal num|ber (cardinal numbers)
[N-COUNT]
A cardinal number is a number such as 1, 3, or 10 that tells you how many things there are in a group but not what order they are in. Compare ordinal number.E num|ber /'iː nʌmbər/ (E numbers)
[N-COUNT]
E numbers are artificial substances which are added to some foods and drinks to improve their flavour or colour or to make them last longer. They are called E numbers because they are represented in Europe by code names which begin with the letter `E'. (BRIT)li|cense num|ber (license numbers)
[N-COUNT]
The license number of a car or other road vehicle is the series of letters and numbers that are shown at the front and back of it. (AM; in BRIT, use registration number)num|ber crunch|er (number crunchers)
[N-COUNT] usu pl
If you refer to number crunchers, you mean people whose jobs involve dealing with numbers or mathematical calculations, for example in finance or statistics. (INFORMAL)
Even if the recovery is under way, it may be some time before the official number crunchers confirm it.num|ber crunch|ing
[N-UNCOUNT] oft N n
If you refer to number crunching, you mean activities or processes concerned with numbers or mathematical calculation, for example in finance, statistics, or computing. (INFORMAL)
The computer does most of the number crunching.num|ber one (number ones)
1 [ADJ] ADJ n
Number one means better, more important, or more popular than anything else of its kind. (INFORMAL)
The economy is the number one issue by far...
By the way, I'm your number-one fan.
2 [N-COUNT]
In popular music, the number one is the best selling CD in any one week, or the group or person who has made that CD. (INFORMAL)
Paula is the only artist to achieve four number ones from a debut album.num|ber plate (number plates)
also numberplate
[N-COUNT]
A number plate is a sign on the front and back of a vehicle that shows its registration number. (BRIT; in AM, use license plate)
He drove a Rolls-Royce with a personalised number plate.op|po|site num|ber (opposite numbers)
[N-COUNT] usu poss N
Your opposite number is a person who has the same job or rank as you, but works in a different department, firm, or organization. (JOURNALISM)
The French Defence Minister is to visit Japan later this month for talks with his Japanese opposite number...
= counterpartor|di|nal num|ber /'ɔːrdɪnəl n'ʌmbər/ (ordinal numbers)
[N-COUNT]
An ordinal number or an ordinal is a word such as `first', `third', and `tenth' that tells you where a particular thing occurs in a sequence of things. Compare cardinal number.prime num|ber (prime numbers)
[N-COUNT]
In mathematics, a prime number is a whole number greater than 1 that cannot be divided exactly by any whole number except itself and the number 1, for example 17.reg|is|tra|tion num|ber (registration numbers)
[N-COUNT]
The registration number or the registration of a car or other road vehicle is the series of letters and numbers that are shown at the front and back of it. (BRIT; in AM, use license number)
Another driver managed to get the registration number of the car.se|rial num|ber (serial numbers)
1 [N-COUNT] oft with poss
The serial number of an object is a number on that object which identifies it.
...the gun's serial number.
...your bike's serial number...
2 [N-COUNT]
The serial number of a member of the United States military forces is a number which identifies them.tele|phone num|ber (telephone numbers)
[N-COUNT]
Your telephone number is the number that other people dial when they want to talk to you on the telephone.
= phone numberwhole num|ber (whole numbers)
[N-COUNT]
A whole number is an exact number such as 1, 7, and 24, as opposed to a number with fractions or decimals.
= integer