cardinal number

noun

Also called cardinal numeral. any of the numbers that express amount, as one, two, three, etc. (distinguished from ordinal number).
Also called potency, power. Mathematics. a number or symbol analogous to the number of elements in a finite set, being identical for two sets that can be placed into one-to-one correspondence: The cardinal number of the set a1, a2, … an is n.

Origin of cardinal number

First recorded in 1585–95

Words nearby cardinal number

cardinal, cardinal beetle, cardinal flower, cardinal grosbeak, cardinal ligament, cardinal number, cardinal numbers, cardinal point, cardinal points, cardinal sign, cardinal sin

British Dictionary definitions for cardinal numbers

cardinal number

cardinal numeral

noun

a number denoting quantity but not order in a set Sometimes shortened to: cardinal
maths logic
  1. a measure of the size of a set that does not take account of the order of its membersCompare natural number
  2. a particular number having this function
Compare ordinal number

Scientific definitions for cardinal numbers

cardinal number
[ kär′dn-əl ]

A number, such as 3, 11, or 412, used in counting to indicate quantity but not order. Compare ordinal number.

Cultural definitions for cardinal numbers

cardinal numbers

Numbers that indicate the quantity of things in a group or set, but not the order or arrangement of those things. One, two, and one thousand are cardinal numbers. (Compare ordinal numbers.)