Defn: The distinction of objects, as one, or more than one (in some languages, as one, or two, or more than two), expressed (usually) by a difference in the form of a word; thus, the singular number and the plural number are the names of the forms of a word indicating the objects denoted or referred to by the word as one, or as more than one.
9. (Math.)
Defn: The measure of the relation between quantities or things of the same kind; that abstract species of quantity which is capable of being expressed by figures; numerical value. Abstract number, Abundant number, Cardinal number, etc. See under Abstract, Abundant, etc. — In numbers, in numbered parts; as, a book published in numbers.
NUMBER
Num"ber, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Numbered; p. pr & vb. n. Numbering.]
Etym: [OE. nombren, noumbren, F. nombrer, fr. L. numerare, numeratum.
See Number, n.]
1. To count; to reckon; to ascertain the units of; to enumerate. If a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered. Gen. xiii. 16.
2. To reckon as one of a collection or multitude. He was numbered with the transgressors. Is. liii. 12.
3. To give or apply a number or numbers to; to assign the place of in a series by order of number; to designate the place of by a number or numeral; as, to number the houses in a street, or the apartments in a building.
4. To amount; to equal in number; to contain; to consist of; as, the army numbers fifty thousand. Thy tears can not number the dead. Campbell. Numbering machine, a machine for printing consecutive numbers, as on railway tickets, bank bills, etc.
Syn.
— To count; enumerate; calculate; tell.
NUMBERER
Num"ber*er, n.