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a numeral or group of numerals.
the sum, total, count, or aggregate of a collection of units, or the like:
A number of people were hurt in the accident. The number of homeless children in the city has risen alarmingly.
a word or symbol, or a combination of words or symbols, used in counting or in noting a total.
the particular numeral assigned to an object so as to designate its place in a series:
house number; license number.
one of a series of things distinguished by or marked with numerals.
a certain collection, company, or quantity not precisely reckoned, but usually considerable or large:
I’ve gone there a number of times.
the full count of a collection or company.
a collection or company.
a quantity of individuals:
Their number was more than 20,000.
numbers.

a considerable amount or quantity; many:
Numbers flocked to the city to see the parade.
metrical feet; verse.
musical periods, measures, or groups of notes.
numbers pool (def 1).
Informal. the figures representing the actual cost, expense, profit, etc.:
We won’t make a decision until we see the numbers.
Obsolete, arithmetic.

quantity as composed of units:
to increase the number of eligible voters.
numerical strength or superiority; complement:
The garrison is not up to its full number.
a tune or arrangement for singing or dancing.
a single or distinct performance within a show, as a song or dance:
The comic routine followed the dance number.
a single part of a program made up of a group of similar parts:
For her third number she played a nocturne.
any of a collection of poems or songs.
a distinct part of an extended musical work or one in a sequence of compositions.
conformity in music or verse to regular beat or measure; rhythm.
a single part of a book published in a series of parts.
a single issue of a periodical:
several numbers of a popular magazine.
a code of numerals, letters, or a combination of these assigned to a particular telephone:
Did you call the right number?
Grammar. a category of noun, verb, or adjective inflection found in many languages, as English, Latin, and Arabic, used to indicate whether a word has one or more than one referent. There may be a two-way distinction in number, as between singular and plural, three-way, as between singular, dual, and plural, or more.
Informal. person; individual:
the attractive number standing at the bar.
Informal. an article of merchandise, especially of wearing apparel, offered for sale:
Put those leather numbers in the display window.
mathematics regarded as a science, a basic concept, and a mode of thought:
Number is the basis of science.
to mark with or distinguish by numbers:
Number each of the definitions.
to amount to or comprise in number; total:
The manuscript already numbers 425 pages.
to consider or include in a number:
I number myself among his friends.
to count over one by one; tell:
to number one’s blessings.
to mention individually or one by one; enumerate:
They numbered the highlights of their trip at length.
to set or fix the number of; limit in number; make few in number:
The sick old man’s days are numbered.
to live or have lived (a number of years).
to ascertain the number of; count.
to apportion or divide:
The players were numbered into two teams.
to make a total; reach an amount:
Casualties numbered in the thousands.
to be numbered or included (usually followed by among or with):
Several eminent scientists number among his friends.
to count.
by the numbers,

according to standard procedure, rules, customs, etc.; orthodoxly; by the book:
We’re going to run things here by the numbers.
together or in unison to a called-out count:
calisthenics by the numbers.

do a number on, Slang.

to undermine, defeat, humiliate, or criticize thoroughly:
The committee really did a number on the mayor’s proposal.
to discuss or discourse about, especially in an entertaining way:
She could do a number on anything from dentistry to the Bomb.

do one’s number,

to give a performance; perform:
It’s time for you to get on stage and do your number.
Slang. to behave in a predictable or customary manner:
Whenever I call, he does his number about being too busy to talk.

get / have someone’s number, Informal. to become informed about someone’s real motives, character, intentions, etc.:
He was only interested in her fortune, but she got his number fast.
have one’s number on it, Slang. to be thought of as the instrument of fate in the death of a person:
That bullet had his number on it.
one’s number is (was, will be) up, Slang.

one is (was, will be) in serious trouble.
one is (was, will be) on the point of death:
Convinced that her number was up anyway, she refused to see doctors.

without number, of unknown or countless number; vast:
stars without number.
deprived of physical sensation or the ability to move:
fingers numb with cold.
manifesting or resembling numbness:
a numb sensation.
incapable of action or of feeling emotion; enervated; prostrate:
numb with grief.
lacking or deficient in emotion or feeling; indifferent:
She was numb to their pleas for mercy.
to make numb.
Contemporary Examples

David’s Bookclub: Catch-22 David Frum December 28, 2012
The Calamitous Castros: What We Know About Ariel Castro’s Brothers and Mother Steve Miller May 8, 2013
WikiLeaks’ Founder Speaks Philip Shenon June 20, 2010
Excerpts From a New Johnny Cash Biography Capture His Iconoclastic Genius Robert Hilburn October 25, 2013
Sorry, Internet: Pope Francis Didn’t Open Paradise to Pets Candida Moss December 13, 2014

Historical Examples

A Middy of the King Harry Collingwood
Ancient Man Hendrik Willem van Loon
The New Education Scott Nearing
United States Presidents’ Inaugural Speeches Various
The Prehistoric World E. A. Allen

noun
a concept of quantity that is or can be derived from a single unit, the sum of a collection of units, or zero. Every number occupies a unique position in a sequence, enabling it to be used in counting. It can be assigned to one or more sets that can be arranged in a hierarchical classification: every number is a complex number; a complex number is either an imaginary number or a real number, and the latter can be a rational number or an irrational number; a rational number is either an integer or a fraction, while an irrational number can be a transcendental number or an algebraic number See complex number, imaginary number, real number, rational number, irrational number, integer, fraction, transcendental number, algebraic number See also cardinal number, ordinal number
the symbol used to represent a number; numeral
a numeral or string of numerals used to identify a person or thing, esp in numerical order: a telephone number
the person or thing so identified or designated: she was number seven in the race
the sum or quantity of equal or similar units or things: a large number of people
one of a series, as of a magazine or periodical; issue

a self-contained piece of pop or jazz music
a self-contained part of an opera or other musical score, esp one for the stage

a group or band of people, esp an exclusive group: he was not one of our number
(slang) a person, esp a woman: who’s that nice little number?
(informal) an admired article, esp an item of clothing for a woman: that little number is by Dior
(slang) a cannabis cigarette: roll another number
a grammatical category for the variation in form of nouns, pronouns, and any words agreeing with them, depending on how many persons or things are referred to, esp as singular or plural in number and in some languages dual or trial
any number of, several or many
(military) by numbers, (of a drill procedure, etc) performed step by step, each move being made on the call of a number
(US, slang) do a number on someone, to manipulate or trick someone
(informal) get someone’s number, have someone’s number, to discover someone’s true character or intentions
in numbers, in large numbers; numerously
(Brit, informal) one’s number is up, one is finished; one is ruined or about to die
without number, beyond number, of too great a quantity to be counted; innumerable
verb (mainly transitive)
to assign a number to
to add up to; total
(also intransitive) to list (items) one by one; enumerate
(also intransitive) to put or be put into a group, category, etc: they were numbered among the worst hit
to limit the number of: his days were numbered
adjective
deprived of feeling through cold, shock, etc
unable to move; paralysed
characteristic of or resembling numbness: a numb sensation
verb (transitive)
to make numb; deaden, shock, or paralyse
n.
v.
adj.
v.

v. numbed, numb·ing, numbs
To make or become numb.numb’ness n.
number
(nŭm’bər)

A person, esp one considered to be clever and resourceful or attractive; article, hot number • Always preceded by an adjective or by the locution ”quite a”: some dizzy broad that must have been a snappy number/ bored-looking number (1919+)
A piece of merchandise, esp of clothing; article: Ifound a number I liked pretty well (1894+)
A theatrical act or routine, esp a song; shtick: He does that number with the tablecloth (1885+ Show business)
A tactic or trick; act: When he’s pulling one of his numbers, he knows what he’s doing (1970s+)
A casual homosexual partner; trick (Homosexuals)
A marijuana cigarette: smoked a couple of numbers in the room (1960s+ Narcotics)

In addition to the idiom beginning with
number