Number: meaning, definitions and examples

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number

[ˈnʌmbər ]

Definitions

^{Context #1 | Noun}

mathematical

An arithmetical value, expressed by a word, symbol, or figure, representing a particular quantity and used in counting and making calculations.

Synonyms

digit, figure, numeral.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
number	General term for a quantity or amount. Suitable for both mathematical and everyday contexts. What's your phone number? There are a number of reasons why we should go
numeral	Refers specifically to the written symbols that represent numbers. Often used in academic or historical contexts. Roman numerals are commonly used for the titles of monarchs and popes The numeral '4' is written as 'IV' in Roman numerals
figure	Commonly used to refer to numeric representations in financial, formal, or statistical contexts. Can also mean a person's body shape or a drawing. She is a key figure in the company The company's profits increased by six figures
digit	Refers specifically to any of the ten numerical symbols from 0 to 9. Often used in technical or precise contexts. The number 945 has three digits The last digit of my ID is 7

Examples of usage

I need to multiply these two numbers together.
What is the square root of this number?

^{Context #2 | Noun}

general

An item used to count or measure quantities; a numeral.

Synonyms

amount, quantity, total.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
number	Use when you refer to countable things or discrete entities. The number of students in the class is 30. I have a number of books on my shelf.
quantity	Use for measurable amounts of countable or uncountable things, often in more formal contexts. We need a large quantity of rice for the party. The quantity of information available online is staggering.
amount	Appropriate for uncountable things or when referring to the total mass or volume of something. The amount of water in the bottle is two liters. She feels a large amount of stress before exams.
total	Best for indicating the sum or final count of multiple items or amounts. The total cost of the trip was $500. The total number of participants reached one hundred.

Examples of usage

He won a large number of awards.
The phone number you have dialed is no longer in service.

^{Context #3 | Noun}

informal

A person or thing that is impressive or important.

Synonyms

celebrity, personality, star.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
number	Used to refer to a quantity or position in a series. Commonly used in counting, identifying items, or specifying an order. I need your phone number. She's number one in her class. The number of participants is increasing.
personality	Used to refer to a set of characteristics or traits that make a person distinct. Also used to describe someone well-known, particularly in the media. She has a bubbly personality. The television personality is known for his humor. His strong personality made him a great leader.
celebrity	Used to describe a famous person, particularly someone known in the entertainment industry. Often implies public recognition and attention. The celebrity was surrounded by fans. He became a celebrity after his movie hit the big screen. The charity gala was attended by many celebrities.
star	Used to describe a person who is exceptionally famous and successful in their field, especially in entertainment or sports. Occasionally used to refer to astronomical stars. The movie star signed autographs for hours. She is the star player of the team. We looked at the stars in the night sky.

Examples of usage

She's a real number in the fashion industry.
That car is quite the number.

Interesting Facts

Etymology

The word 'number' comes from the Latin 'numerus,' which also means 'number' and was used in Roman counting.
In Old French, the word 'nombrer' meant 'to count,' contributing to our modern understanding of quantity.

Mathematics

Numbers can be classified into various types, like whole numbers, fractions, and decimals, each serving its purpose in arithmetic.
The concept of zero, which is a number that represents nothing, was first used in ancient India and has a significant impact on mathematics today.

Culture

In many cultures, certain numbers are considered lucky or unlucky; for example, the number 7 is often thought to bring good fortune.
In Chinese culture, the number 8 is associated with prosperity, making it a popular choice for business and celebrations.

History

The earliest known way of counting is tallying, where people would carve notches into sticks or stones.
The invention of the abacus in ancient Mesopotamia allowed for fast arithmetic calculations and laid the groundwork for future counting tools.

Science

In computer science, binary numbers (only 0s and 1s) are used for all calculations in digital devices, forming the backbone of modern technology.
The Fibonacci sequence in mathematics describes a pattern found in nature, where each number is the sum of the two preceding ones, like the number of petals in flowers.

Translations

Translations of the word "number" in other languages:

🇵🇹 número

🇮🇳 संख्या

🇩🇪 Nummer

🇮🇩 nomor

🇺🇦 номер

🇵🇱 numer

🇯🇵 番号 (ばんごう)

🇫🇷 numéro

🇪🇸 número

🇹🇷 numara

🇰🇷 번호

🇸🇦 رقم

🇨🇿 číslo

🇸🇰 číslo

🇨🇳 号码 (hàomǎ)

🇸🇮 številka

🇮🇸 númer

🇰🇿 нөмір

🇬🇪 ნომერი

🇦🇿 nömrə

🇲🇽 número

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #90, this word is extremely common in English. It's a crucial part of basic vocabulary that's used constantly in both spoken and written communication, making it essential for even basic conversations.

...
87 three
88 good
89 day
90 number
91 during
92 man
93 without
...