<p><strong>Noun</strong></p><ul><li>a numeral or group of numerals.</li><li>Synonyms: figure, digit</li><li>the sum, total, count, or aggregate of a collection of people or things:<ul><li>The number of children experiencing homelessness in the city has risen alarmingly.</li></ul></li><li>a word or symbol, or a combination of words or symbols, used in counting or in noting a total.</li><li>the particular numeral assigned to an object or, sometimes, a person, indicating its place in a series:<ul><li>house number;</li><li>license number;</li><li>jersey number.</li></ul></li><li>one of a series of things or people distinguished by or marked with numerals:<ul><li>Number 5's order is ready to be delivered.</li></ul></li><li>a code of numerals, letters, or a combination of these assigned to a particular telephone:<ul><li>Did you call the right number?</li></ul></li><li>quantity as composed of units or individuals:<ul><li>The governor put forth a plan to increase the number of eligible voters.</li></ul></li><li>the count or quantity of a collection or company:<ul><li>Their number was more than 20,000.</li></ul></li><li>numbers, a considerable amount or quantity; many:<ul><li>Numbers flocked to the city to see the parade.</li></ul></li><li>metrical feet; verse.</li><li>musical periods, measures, or groups of notes.</li><li>numbers pool (def 1).</li><li>Informal: the figures representing the actual cost, expense, profit, etc.:<ul><li>We won't make a decision until we see the numbers.</li></ul></li><li>Obsolete: arithmetic.</li><li>numerical strength or superiority; complement:<ul><li>The garrison is not up to its full number.</li></ul></li><li>a single or distinct performance within a show, as a song or dance:<ul><li>The comic routine followed the dance number.</li></ul></li><li>a single part of a program made up of a group of similar parts:<ul><li>For her third number she played a nocturne.</li></ul></li><li>any of a collection of poems or songs.</li><li>a tune or arrangement for singing or dancing.</li><li>a distinct part of an extended musical work or one in a sequence of compositions.</li><li>conformity in music or verse to regular beat or measure; rhythm.</li><li>a single part of a book published in a series of parts.</li><li>a single issue of a periodical:<ul><li>The bookcase contained several numbers of a popular magazine.</li></ul></li><li>Synonyms: edition</li><li>Grammar: a category of noun, verb, or adjective inflection found in many languages, such as English, Latin, and Arabic, used to indicate whether a word has one or more than one referent.</li><li>There may be a two-way distinction in number, as between singular and plural, three-way, as between singular, dual, and plural, or a more complex system.</li><li>Informal: a person; individual:<ul><li>Why don't you go talk to the attractive number standing at the bar?</li></ul></li><li>Informal: an article of merchandise, especially of clothing, offered for sale:<ul><li>Put those leather numbers in the display window.</li></ul></li><li>mathematics regarded as a system, a basic concept, and a mode of thought:<ul><li>Number is the basis of science.</li></ul></li></ul><p><strong>Verb (used with object)</strong></p><ul><li>to mark with or distinguish by numeral:<ul><li>Number each of the definitions.</li></ul></li><li>to ascertain the number of; count.</li><li>to total or amount to:<ul><li>The manuscript already numbers 425 pages.</li></ul></li><li>to consider or include in a collection or group:<ul><li>I number myself among his friends.</li></ul></li><li>to count over one by one:<ul><li>to number one's blessings.</li></ul></li><li>to mention individually or one by one; list; enumerate:<ul><li>They numbered the highlights of their trip at length.</li></ul></li><li>to set or fix the number of; limit in number; make few in number:<ul><li>The sick old man's days are numbered.</li></ul></li><li>to live or have lived (a number of years).</li><li>to apportion or divide by counting (used with off):<ul><li>The players were numbered off into two teams.</li></ul></li></ul><p><strong>Verb (used without object)</strong></p><ul><li>to make a total; reach an amount:<ul><li>Casualties numbered in the thousands.</li></ul></li><li>to be numbered or included (usually followed by among or with):<ul><li>Several eminent scientists number among his friends.</li></ul></li><li>to count.</li></ul>