a numeral or group of numerals.

the sum, total, count, or aggregate of a collection of units, or the like

A number of people were hurt in the accident. The number of homeless children in the city has risen alarmingly.

a word or symbol, or a combination of words or symbols, used in counting or in noting a total.

the particular numeral assigned to an object so as to designate its place in a series

house number; license number.

one of a series of things distinguished by or marked with numerals.

a certain collection, company, or quantity not precisely reckoned, but usually considerable or large

I've gone there a number of times.

the full count of a collection or company.

a collection or company.

a quantity of individuals

Their number was more than 20,000.

numbers,

a considerable amount or quantity; many

Numbers flocked to the city to see the parade.

metrical feet; verse.

musical periods, measures, or groups of notes.

numbers pool ( def. 1 ) .

Informal . the figures representing the actual cost, expense, profit, etc.

We won't make a decision until we see the numbers.

Obsolete . arithmetic.

quantity as composed of units

to increase the number of eligible voters.

numerical strength or superiority; complement

The garrison is not up to its full number.

a tune or arrangement for singing or dancing.

a single or distinct performance within a show, as a song or dance

The comic routine followed the dance number.

a single part of a program made up of a group of similar parts

For her third number she played a nocturne.

any of a collection of poems or songs.

a distinct part of an extended musical work or one in a sequence of compositions.

conformity in music or verse to regular beat or measure; rhythm.

a single part of a book published in a series of parts.

a single issue of a periodical

several numbers of a popular magazine.

a code of numerals, letters, or a combination of these assigned to a particular telephone

Did you call the right number?

Grammar . a category of noun, verb, or adjective inflection found in many languages, as English, Latin, and Arabic, used to indicate whether a word has one or more than one referent. There may be a two-way distinction in number, as between singular and plural, three-way, as between singular, dual, and plural, or more.

Informal . person; individual

the attractive number standing at the bar.

Informal . an article of merchandise, esp. of wearing apparel, offered for sale

Put those leather numbers in the display window.

mathematics regarded as a science, a basic concept, and a mode of thought

Number is the basis of science.

to mark with or distinguish by numbers

Number each of the definitions.

to amount to or comprise in number; total

The manuscript already numbers 425 pages.

to consider or include in a number

I number myself among his friends.

to count over one by one; tell

to number one's blessings.

to mention individually or one by one; enumerate

They numbered the highlights of their trip at length.

to set or fix the number of; limit in number; make few in number

The sick old man's days are numbered.

to live or have lived (a number of years).

to ascertain the number of; count.

to apportion or divide

The players were numbered into two teams.

to make a total; reach an amount

Casualties numbered in the thousands.

to be numbered or included (usually fol. by among or with )

Several eminent scientists number among his friends.

to count. ?

by the numbers

according to standard procedure, rules, customs, etc.; orthodoxly; by the book

We're going to run things here by the numbers.

together or in unison to a called-out count

calisthenics by the numbers.

do a number on

Slang .

to undermine, defeat, humiliate, or criticize thoroughly

The committee really did a number on the mayor's proposal.

to discuss or discourse about, esp. in an entertaining way

She could do a number on anything from dentistry to the Bomb.

do one's number

to give a performance; perform

It's time for you to get on stage and do your number.

Slang . to behave in a predictable or customary manner

Whenever I call, he does his number about being too busy to talk.

get or have someone's number, Informal . to become informed about someone's real motives, character, intentions

etc.

He was only interested in her fortune, but she got his number fast.

have one's number on it

Slang . to be thought of as the instrument of fate in the death of a person

That bullet had his number on it.

one's number is (was, will be) up

Slang .

one is (was, will be) in serious trouble.

one is (was, will be) on the point of death

Convinced that her number was up anyway, she refused to see doctors.

without number

of unknown or countless number; vast

stars without number.

noun

letter , one

verb

estimate , guess

noun

cardinal , character , chiffer , cipher , count , decimal , denominator , digit , emblem , figure , folio , fraction , googol , integer , numeral , numerator , ordinal , prime , representation , sign , statistic , sum , symbol , total , whole numbernotes:use \' amount \' with things that cannot be counted but \' number \' with things that can be countednumber is regularly used with count nouns , while amount is mainly used with mass nouns: number of mistakes , amount of moneynumerals are symbols; numbers are the things that numerals symbolize , abundance , amount , caboodle , collection , company , conglomeration , crowd , estimate , flock , horde , jillion , lot , manifoldness , many , multitude , plenitude , plenty , product , quantity , slew , throng , totality , umpteen , volume , whole , zillionnotes:use \' amount \' with things that cannot be counted but \' number \' with things that can be countednumber is regularly used with count nouns , arithmetic , computation , aggregate , factor , hecatomb , legion , magnitude , manifold , multiplicity , myriad , numerousness , plurality

verb

account , add , add up , aggregate , amount , come , computer , count heads , count noses , count off , enumerate , estimate , figure in , figure out , include , keep tabs , numerate , reckon , run , run down , run into , run to , sum , take account of , tale , tally , tell , tick off * , total , tote , tote upnotes:use \' amount \' with things that cannot be counted but \' number \' with things that can be countednumber is regularly used with count nouns , while amount is mainly used with mass nouns: number of mistakes , amount of moneynumerals are symbols; numbers are the things that numerals symbolize , reach , array , bunch , bundle , calculate , compute , count , crowd , figure up , flock , fraction , group , herd , horde , host , many , multitude , myriad , percentage , proportion , quantity , quota , scads , score , several , slew , swarm