Number People Phone Group Word Quantity Extra Examples

• 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.)

number

1. a word or symbol that represents an amount or a quantity
• SYNONYM figure
  https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/figure_2
• 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.

Extra Examples

• Add all the numbers together, divide by ten, and then take away twelve.
• Houses on this side of the road have even numbers.
• Many people think 13 is an unlucky number.
• the winning numbers in tonight's lottery
• That's quite a high number— think of a lower one.
2. used before a figure to show the position of something in a series
• They live at number 26.
• The song reached number 5 in the charts.
3. a set of figures that is used to identify something or communicate by phone, etc.
• SEE ALSO 800 number
  https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/800-number
• Ask for the customer's name and phone number.
• Customers can reach us by calling an 0800 number (= a free phone number in the UK).
• I'm sorry, I think you have the wrong number (= wrong phone number).
• Call this number and ask to speak to John.
• What is your account number, please?
• Can I have your credit card number?
• Please give your landline and mobile phone numbers.

Extra Examples

• They exchanged numbers and agreed to go out for a drink one evening.
• What is your social security number, please?
• He dialled the number, then changed his mind and hung up.
4. a quantity of people or things
• A large number of people have applied for the job.
• In a small number of cases the illness is fatal.
• The number of homeless people has increased dramatically.
• The total number of students has doubled in the last six years.
• 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.
• Use a pedometer to count the number of steps you take.
• Our aim is to reduce the number of road accidents.
• This year we have increased the number of events from six to ten.
• 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

Extra Examples

• Staff numbers were reduced because of budget cuts.
• Anna counted the number of men standing around outside.
• Conference organizers put the number of attendees at around 500.
• Factories had increased in number between the wars.
• Many people have died in the epidemic—the precise number is not known.
• Shark numbers have dwindled as a result of hunting.
• The candidates received an equal number of votes.
• The decline in numbers of young people means that fewer teachers will be needed.
• The paintings, twelve in number, are over 200 years old.
• We've had a fair number of complaints about the new phone system.
5. a group or quantity of people
• one of our number (= one of us)
• The prime minister is elected by MPs from among their number.
6. the version of a magazine, etc. published on a particular day, in a particular month, etc.
• SYNONYM issue
  https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/issue_2
• the October number of ‘Vogue’
• The back numbers of ‘The Times’ were kept in a basement.
7. a song or dance, especially one of several in a performance
• They sang a slow romantic number.
8. a thing, such as a dress or a car, that is admired
• She was wearing a black velvet number.
9. 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.
10. following a set of simple instructions identified by numbers
• painting by numbers
11. following closely the accepted rules for doing something
12. an easy job; a pleasant situation that other people would like
• It’s all right for him—he’s got a very cushy number.
13. to know what somebody is really like and what they plan to do
• He thinks he can fool me but I've got his number.
14. the time has come when you will die or lose everything
15. a way of considering an activity, etc. that considers only the number of people doing something, things achieved, etc., not with who or what they are
• MPs were playing the numbers game as the crucial vote drew closer.
16. a person who does the same job as you in another organization
• The Foreign Secretary is currently having talks with his opposite number in the White House.
17. being in a group makes you safer and makes you feel more confident
18. being in a group gives you more power
• There's strength in numbers, so encourage your friends and family to join us.
19. the combined power, strength or influence of a group
• They won the argument by sheer weight of numbers.

Word Origin

• Middle English: from Old French nombre (noun), nombrer (verb), from Latin numerus.