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# number

noun (number, numbers; short form No., no., #); verb (number, numbers, numbered, numbering)

«number» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. A number tells how many or how much, like 3 or 12. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/number/#m1)
2. A number is a written sign for an amount: the number 7. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/number/#m2)
3. A number is used to name or find something: a phone number, a house number. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/number/#m3)
4. «A number of» means some or several: a number of children. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/number/#m4)
5. To number is to give numbers to things in order. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/number/#m5)
6. A number is also a song or a piece of music in a show. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/number/#m6)
7. (casual) «Number one» means yourself (look after number one) or a wee; «number two» is a polite way to say a poo; «do a number on someone» means hurt or trick them; «your number's up» means your luck has run out. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/number/#m7)
8. (casual) «Get someone's number» means get their phone number. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/number/#m8)
9. (formal) The exam voice says «quantity», «integer», «numeral», «figure», «cardinality», «magnitude», «value», «sum». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/number/#m9)

### In the lessons

an amount; «the number of groups» and «the size of one group» are the two numbers in multiplying; «subtract the smaller number from the bigger one»; in maths odd and even numbers, whole numbers, number line; in everyday life phone numbers, bus numbers, house numbers; in safety know your emergency number (911 in the USA and Canada, 999 or 112 in the UK and Ireland, 000 in Australia, 111 in New Zealand); in casual talk «number one», «number two», «what's your number?»; in the exam voice «integer», «quantity», «cardinality», «numeral»

### Examples

- We always subtract the smaller number from the bigger one. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/number/#x1)
- Multiply the number of groups by the size of one group. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/number/#x2)
- What number is 4 more than 9? [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/number/#x3)
- Write the numbers from 1 to 20. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/number/#x4)
- 7 is an odd number; 8 is an even number. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/number/#x5)
- Do you know your home phone number? [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/number/#x6)
- Number the pages of your book. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/number/#x7)
- A number of children were late. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/number/#x8)
- The choir sang three numbers at the concert. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/number/#x9)
- whats ur number, i'll text u when we're there [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/number/#x10)
- Mum, I need a number two, where's the toilet? [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/number/#x11)
- State the integer which exceeds 9 by 4. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/number/#x12)
- After them hopped in a number of squirrels. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/number/#x13)

### Note

«the number of groups» and «the size of one group» are the two numbers in multiplying. «A number» is the amount; «a digit» is one sign (0 to 9) used to write it: 25 has two digits. «The number of children is» (singular), but «a number of children are» (plural). «A number of» means some, not an exact count. Short form «No.» or «#». «integer» in an exam is a whole number. A phone or bus number is a name, not an amount: never add phone numbers. Emergency numbers: 911 in the USA and Canada, 999 or 112 in the UK and Ireland, 000 in Australia, 111 in New Zealand.

## In Jewish tradition

In the Torah, to "number" people means to count them, as in the census in the wilderness.

**Interpretation.** Tradition notes that Israel was counted by heads, often through a half-shekel offering, and not directly. In Sefer Yetzirah, numbers (sefirot) are the building blocks of creation.

### Examples

- Who hath counted the dust of Jacob, or numbered the stock of Israel? (Torah NUM.23.10, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/N/number/#x1)
- But the Levites after the tribe of their fathers were not numbered among them. (Torah NUM.1.47, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/N/number/#x2)
- As the LORD commanded Moses, so did he number them in the wilderness of Sinai. (Torah NUM.1.19, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/N/number/#x3)
- Is there any number of His armies? (Writings JOB.25.3, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/N/number/#x4)
- Who can number the clouds by wisdom? (Writings JOB.38.37, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/N/number/#x5)
- Canst thou number the months that they fulfil? (Writings JOB.39.2, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/N/number/#x6)

### Note

«the number of groups» and «the size of one group» are the two numbers in multiplying. «A number» is the amount; «a digit» is one sign (0 to 9) used to write it: 25 has two digits. «The number of children is» (singular), but «a number of children are» (plural). «A number of» means some, not an exact count. Short form «No.» or «#». «integer» in an exam is a whole number. A phone or bus number is a name, not an amount: never add phone numbers. Emergency numbers: 911 in the USA and Canada, 999 or 112 in the UK and Ireland, 000 in Australia, 111 in New Zealand.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «number» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/number/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«number» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/number.html) on Mova free.
- [Trees and pragmatics of «number» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/N/number/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«number» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/number.html) on Mova free.