number

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noun
word / symbol
[C] a word or symbol that represents an amount or a quantity: Think of a number and multiply it by two. ◆ a high / low number ◆ even numbers (= 2, 4, 6, etc.) ◆ odd numbers (= 1, 3, 5, etc.) ◆ You owe me 27 dollars? Make it 30, that's a good round number.
See also CARDINAL NUMBER, ORDINAL, PRIME NUMBER, WHOLE NUMBER
position in series
[C] (abbreviation No.) (Symbol #) used before a figure to show the position of sth in a series: They live at number 26. ◆ The song reached number 5 in the charts.
telephone, etc.
[C] (often in compounds) a number used to identify sth or communicate by telephone, FAX, etc: My phone number is 266998 ◆ I'm sorry, I think you have the wrong number (= wrong telephone number). ◆ He dialled the number, then changed his mind and hung up. ◆ What is your account number, please?
See also BOX NUMBER, E-NUMBER, PIN, REGISTRATION NUMBER, SERIAL NUMBER
quantity
[C] ~ (of sb/sth) a quantity of people or things: A large number of people have applied for the job. ◆ The number of homeless people has increased dramatically. ◆ Huge numbers of (= very many) animals have died. ◆ A number of (= some) problems have arisen. ◆ I could give you any number of (= a lot of) reasons for not going. ◆ We were eight in number (= there were eight of us). ◆ Nurses are leaving the profession in increasing numbers. ◆ Sheer weight of numbers (= the large number of soldiers) secured them the victory. ◆ The course will have to be repeated owing to pressure of numbers (= too many students). ◆ staff / student numbers
Help Note: A plural verb is needed after a / an (large, small, etc.) number of ....
group of people
[sing.] (formal) a group or quantity of people: one of our number (= one of us) ◆ The prime minister is elected by MPs from among their number.
magazine
[C] (BrE) the version of a magazine, etc. published on a particular day, in a particular month, etc.
Synonym: ISSUE
the October number of 'Vogue'
See also BACK NUMBER
song / dance
[C] a song or dance, especially one of several in a performance: They sang a slow romantic number.
thing admired
[sing.] (informal) (following one or more adjectives) a thing, such as a dress or a car, that is admired: She was wearing a black velvet number.
grammar
[U] the form of a word, showing whether one or more than one person or thing is being talked about: The word 'men' is plural in number. ◆ The subject of a sentence and its verb must agree in number.
Idioms: by numbers following a set of simple instructions identified by numbers: painting by numbers
have (got) sb's number (informal) to know what sb is really like and what they plan to do: He thinks he can fool me but I've got his number.
your number is up (informal) the time has come when you will die or lose everything
number one (informal)
the most important or best person or thing: We're number one in the used car business. ◆ the world's number one athlete ◆ the number one priority
yourself: Looking after number one is all she thinks about.
numbers game a way of considering an activity, etc. that is concerned only with the number of people doing sth, things achieved, etc., not with who or what they are: MPs were playing the numbers game as the crucial vote drew closer.
more at CUSHY, OPPOSITE adj., SAFETY, WEIGHT n.
verb
make a series
to give a number to sth as part of a series or list: [VN] All the seats in the stadium are numbered. ◆ Number the car's features from 1 to 10 according to importance. ◆ [V] I couldn't work out the numbering system for the hotel rooms. [also VN-N]
make sth as total
[V-N] to make a particular number when added together
Synonym: ADD UP TO STH
The crowd numbered more than a thousand. ◆ We numbered 20 (= there were 20 of us in the group).
include
~ (sb/sth) among sth (formal) to include sb/sth in a particular group; to be included in a particular group: [VN] I number her among my closest friends. ◆ [V] He numbers among the best classical actors in Britain.
Idioms see DAY

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