number

[ nuhm-ber ]
/ ˈnʌm bər /

noun

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

Idioms for number

Origin of number

1250–1300; 1940–45 for def 23; (noun) Middle English, variant of nombre < Old French < Latin numerus; (v.) Middle English nombren < Old French nombrer < Latin numerāre (derivative of numerus)

SYNONYMS FOR number

2 Number, sum both imply the total of two or more units. Number applies to the result of a count or estimate in which the units are considered as individuals; it is used of groups of persons or things: to have a number of items on the agenda. Sum applies to the result of addition, in which only the total is considered: a large sum of money.
20 copy, edition.

usage note for number

2. As a collective noun, number, when preceded by a, is most often treated as a plural: A number of legislators have voiced their dissent. When preceded by the, it is usually used as a singular: The number of legislators present was small. See also amount, collective noun.

OTHER WORDS FROM number

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH number

amount number (see usage note at amount)

British Dictionary definitions for get someone's number

number
/ (ˈnʌmbə) /

noun

verb (mainly tr)

Word Origin for number

C13: from Old French nombre, from Latin numerus

Medical definitions for get someone's number

number
[ nŭmbər ]

n.

A symbol expressive of a certain value or of a specific quantity determined by count.
The place of any unit in a series.

Scientific definitions for get someone's number

number
[ nŭmbər ]

A member of the set of positive integers. Each number is one of a series of unique symbols, each of which has exactly one predecessor except the first symbol in the series (1), and none of which are the predecessor of more than one number.
A member of any of the further sets of mathematical objects defined in terms of such numbers, such as negative integers, real numbers, and complex numbers.

Cultural definitions for get someone's number

number

The grammatical category that classifies a noun, pronoun, or verb as singular or plural. Woman, it, and is are singular; women, they, and are are plural.

Idioms and Phrases with get someone's number (1 of 2)

get someone's number

Also, have someone's number. Determine or know one's real character or motives, as in You can't fool Jane; she's got your number. This expression uses number in the sense of “a precise appraisal.” Charles Dickens had it in Bleak House (1853): “Whenever a person proclaims to you, 'In worldly matters I'm a child,' ... that person is only crying off from being held accountable ... and you have got that person's number.” [Mid-1800s]

Idioms and Phrases with get someone's number (2 of 2)

number