noun

1. a symbol or word, or a group of either of these, showing how many or which one in a series: 1, 2, 10, 101 (one, two, ten, one hundred and one) are called cardinal numbers; 1st, 2d, 10th, 101st (first, second, tenth, one hundred and first) are called ordinal numbers
2. arithmetic
3. the sum or total of persons or units; aggregate
4. a collection of persons or things; company; assemblage a small number of people
5. 1. a large group; many cut down numbers of trees
   2. numerical superiority safety in numbers
   3. ☆ statistics, ratings, etc. the pitcher's salary will be based on last year's numbers
6. quantity, as consisting of units a number of errors
7. one of a series or group that is numbered or thought of as numbered; specif.,
   1. a single issue of a periodical the winter number of a quarterly
   2. a single song, dance, skit, etc. in a program of entertainment
   3. ☆ Slang a pattern of behavior or thought, esp. one characteristic of a particular individual, group, etc.
8. Informal a person or thing singled out this hat is a smart number
9. Gram.
   1. a characteristic, as of nouns and verbs, indicating whether a given utterance involves reference to one or more than one entity, or, in some languages, to exactly two; also, an analytic category based on this characteristic
   2. the form a word takes to indicate this characteristic
   3. any of the sets of such forms
10. Obsolete
    1. metrical form; meter
    2. metrical lines; verses

Etymology: ME nombre < OE < L numerus: see -nomy

transitive verb

1. to total the number of persons or things in; count; enumerate
2. to give a number to; designate by number
3. to include as one of a group, class, or category numbered among the missing
4. to fix or limit the number or the duration of his days are numbered
5. to have or comprise; total a library numbering 10,000 volumes

Etymology: ME nombren < OFr nombrer < L numerare, to count < numerus

intransitive verb

1. to total; count; enumerate
2. to be numbered; be included