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number
- Main Entry:
- 1num·ber
- Pronunciation:
-
\ˈnəm-bər\
- Function:
- 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 : arithmetic2: a distinction of word form to denote reference to one or more than one; also : a form or group of forms so distinguished3plural a (1): metrical structure : meter (2): metrical lines : verses barchaic : musical sounds : notes4 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>7plural but sing or plural in constr 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: 2policy 2a8plural 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 3c9: 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>
— by the numbers 1: in unison to a specific count or cadence2: in a systematic, routine, or mechanical manner
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