number
Word family
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 5++LDOCE 5++num·ber1 /ˈnʌmbə $ -bər/ ●●● S1 W1 noun 1 number 数字 [countable]HMN a word or sign that represents an exact amount or quantity 数，数字 → numeral, figure They wrote various numbers on a large sheet of paper. 他们在一张大纸上写下了很多不同的数字。 Add all the numbers together. 把所有数字加起来。an even number (=2,4, 6,8 etc) 偶数an odd number (=1,3, 5,7 etc) 奇数a round number (=one ending in 0) 整十数 A hundred pounds is a good round number. 取整到一百英镑就不错。 I’m no good with numbers. 我不擅长数字。2 phone 电话 [countable]HMNTCT a phone number 电话号码 My new number is 502–6155. 我的新电话号码是502-6155。somebody’s home/office/work number I gave him my home number. 我给了他我家的电话号码。mobile/fax number What’s your mobile number? 你的移动电话号码是多少？ Sorry, you have the wrong number. 对不起，你拨错号码了。3 in a set/list 在系列/清单中 [countable]HMNPLACE a number used to show the position of something in an ordered set or list 号码；…号，第…号 Answer question number 4. 回答第4题。 a number 17 bus 17路公共汽车 → E number, No. 10, number one14 for recognizing SB/STH 用于识别某人/某物 [countable]HMNB a set of numbers used to name or recognize someone or something 编号model/account etc number What is your account number, please? 请问你的账号是多少？ Press 1 to change the printer number. 变更打印机号码请按1。 Did you get the number (=registration number) of the car? 你记下那辆车的车牌号码了吗？ → box number, PIN, serial number5 amount 数量 [countable, uncountable]AMOUNT an amount of something that can be counted 数目；数量 SYN quantitythe number of something The number of cars on our roads rose dramatically last year. 去年道路上的汽车数量剧增。a number of something We have been friends for a number of years. 我们已经是多年的朋友了。in number The condors have dwindled to an estimated sixty in number. 秃鹫已减少到仅约60只。5 GRAMMAR 语法• Use a singular verb after the number of. the number of 之后用单数动词The number of farmers is decreasing.务农人员数目在减少。• You are talking about the size of the group. 这是指群体的规模。A number of options were suggested.提出了好几种选择。• Use a plural verb after a number of. a number of 之后使用复数动词• You are referring to the group. 这是指群体本身。 GRAMMAR: Singular or plural verb?• You use a singular verb after the number of: the number of 之后用单数动词nThe number of people is increasing. • You use a plural verb after a number of (=several): the number of 之后用单数动词nA number of issues were discussed. 6 numbers [plural]AMOUNT how many people there are, especially people attending an event or doing an activity together 〔尤指参加某一活动的〕人数7 APMAPTmusic 音乐 [countable] a piece of popular music that forms part of a longer performance 一首流行乐曲8 magazine 杂志 [countable] British EnglishTCN a copy of a magazine or newspaper printed on a particular date 〔杂志或报纸的〕期，号 SYN issue9 have somebody’s number informalUNDERSTAND to understand something about someone that helps you deal with them 对某人心中有数，摸透某人的底10 black/elegant etc (little) number informal a black, elegant etc dress or suit, especially a woman’s 〔尤指女性穿的〕黑色/高贵等的礼服11. somebody’s number comes up WINsomeone has the winning number in a competition 某人的号码中了12 somebody’s number is up (also somebody’s number has come up) informal13 the numbers DGG14 by numbers if you do something by numbers, you do it in a basic way by following a set of simple instructions – used to show disapproval 按简单指令进行〔含贬义〕15 do a number on somebody/something informal to hurt or damage someone or something badly 严重伤害[损坏]某人/某物16. beyond/without number literaryLOT/LARGE NUMBER OR AMOUNT if things are beyond number, there are so many of them that no one could count them all 数不胜数17 group of people 一群人 [uncountable] formalFEW/NOT MANY a group of people 一群人18 grammar 语法 [uncountable] technicalSLG the form of a word, depending on whether one thing or more than one thing is being talked about 数 COLLOCATIONS – Meaning 1: a word or sign that represents an exact amount or quantity 数，数字adjectivesna lucky number (=a number you think gives you good luck)Three is my lucky number.an even number (=2,4, 6,8 etc) 偶数nAll even numbers can be divided by 2.an odd number (=1,3, 5,7 etc) 奇数nYou can’t work in pairs if you’ve got an odd number of people.a round number (=a number ending in zero) 整十数A hundred is a nice round number. 取整到一百英镑就不错。na positive number (=a number that is more than zero)Maths is easier if you are dealing with positive numbers.na negative/minus number (=a number that is less than zero)Can a negative number have a square root?na prime number (=a number such as 13 that can be divided only by itself and 1)After 7, what is the next prime number?na cardinal number (=a number such as 1,2, or 3 that shows how many of something there are)Numbers go on to infinity, so there is no last cardinal number.nan ordinal number (=a number such as 1st, 2nd, or 3rd that shows where something comes in a series or list)The children learn about position and ordinal numbers when they stand in a line.na whole number (=a number that is not a fraction)verbsnadd numbers togetherAdd the two numbers together and divide by three.add up numbers (=add several numbers together) 把所有数字加起来。nWrite all the numbers down, then add them up.nsubtract one number from anotherSubtract this number from the total.nmultiply one number by anotherWhat happens if you multiply a positive number by a negative number?ndivide one number by anotherYou can’t divide a prime number by any other number, except 1. COLLOCATIONS – Meaning 5: an amount of something that can be counted 数目；数量adjectivesa large/great number 很多，许多A large number of children were running around in the playground. 有很多孩子在操场上奔跑。a vast/huge number (=very large) 大量，许多We’ve had a huge number of complaints. 我们收到大量投诉。a high number 数量高There seems to be no reason for the high number of suicides. 自杀数量之高似乎没有理由可以解释。a considerable/substantial/significant number (=quite a large number) 大量He received a substantial number of votes. 他获得大量选票。nA considerable number of students left after the first year.a good number (=quite a lot) 许多He has written a good number of books for children. 他写了许多儿童读物。a small number 少量，很少The class had only a small number of students. 这个班学生很少。a low number 数量少the low numbers of women involved in sports coaching 从事体育教练工作的女性数量之少a limited number (=quite small) 有限的数量A limited number of copies were printed. 印制数量有限。a tiny number (=very small) 极少的数量Only a tiny number of these animals remain in the wild. 这些动物只有极少数生活在野外。a growing/increasing number 越来越多的数量An increasing number of women are entering the profession. 越来越多的女性进入这个行业。verbsincrease the number of something 增加某事物的数量As you improve, increase the number of times you do each exercise. 随着你身体好转，增加每个练习的次数。reduce the number of something 减少某事物的数量We need to reduce the number of cars on the road. 我们需要减少道路上的车辆。a number increases/goes up/grows/rises 数量上升The number of mobile phones has increased dramatically. 移动电话数量大幅上升。a number doubles (=becomes twice as big) 数量翻倍The number of road accidents has doubled in the last ten years. 在过去十年里，交通事故数量翻了一番。a number falls/drops/goes down/decreases/declines 数量下降The number of new houses being built is falling steadily. 新建住宅数量正在逐渐下降。a number halves (=becomes twice as small) 数量减半nThe number of children failing at school has halved in recent years.phrasesin large/increasing/limited etc numbers 大量地/越来越多地/数量有限地等Birds nest here in large numbers. 大量鸟儿在这里筑巢。any number of something (=a very large number of them) 大量的某事物There have been any number of magazine articles about the celebrity couple. 杂志上有大量关于这对名人夫妻的文章。bring the number to 25,120 etc 使数字达到25，120等This will bring the number of jobs lost at the company to 85. 这将使公司的裁员数目增加到85。COMMON ERRORS ► Don’t say ‘a big number of people/things’. Say a large number of people/things. 不要说 ‘a big number of people/things’. 而要说 a large number of people/things.Examples from the Corpus
number• Each player has a number on the back of their shirt.• Pick a number between one and ten.• Double check the account number to make sure it's right.• The rain had stopped but the mosquitoes were out in alarming numbers and there was no jeep to ride in.• I live at number 12 Liverpool Road.• Cast members performed the new dance number.• An enormous number of people wrote to complain about last night's show.• The game works best with an even number of children.• DeBuono attributes the higher number of cases in Monroe County to better hospital reporting.• The result was a large number of takeovers and mergers.• A large number of reporters had gathered outside the house.• All the doors on this side of the street have odd numbers.• Ann's phone number is 555-3234.• Take a look at question number three.• May I please have your Social Security number?• There have been several cases of tuberculosis, and the number is rising.• The regulations limit the number of students in each class.• He mentioned the number eight or nine times.• By the end of last month, the number had increased to 41. 2 percent.• However, the grammar must be able to correctly distinguish word hypotheses or the number of paths will grow exponentially.• By next year, the number of homes with either cable or satellite television is expected to be just over 10 million.• The number of cars on the roads increased by 22% last year.• The number of working days lost through strikes has continued to rise.• The number of police officers has increased enormously during the past 10 years.• "The show's not very good." "We can leave after this number if you want."• It is directly responsible for 35,000 deaths from lung cancer and twice this number from other diseases every year.• Raffle ticket number 241 wins the dinner for two at La Fiorentina.• Nell Carter also appeared and performed a couple of upbeat numbers.somebody’s home/office/work number• That's my home number.model/account etc number• The overnight clerk puts the codes and account numbers on file cards.• Once the software is loaded and the user sends his or her bank account number, writing checks takes only seconds.• Basic rule here is never give out your password or account number, not online or over the phone.• Within that you can then write what may be a third party account number.• I don't know the model number but it's the number one that they make - retails for about £850.• In his head was the account number at the Credit Bank of Zurich.• After purchasing a card from a vendor or through the mail, customers scratch off the surface to reveal their account number.the number of something• To secure equilibrium, output and the number of manufacturing firms have to increase.• As the number of people involved increases, so does the likelihood of the fraud's detection.• It will double the number of vehicles that will come into King's Cross or St. Pancras during the morning peak hours.• I, personally, have the number of days pasted up on the inside of my locker.• Tightly regulated standards for schools, including the number of minutes that are to be spent studying a subject.• Changing social values have increased the numbers of homosexual or unmarried households.• There are a lot of preventive measures that would reduce the number of severe mental problems.number of• This year the number of houses for sale went up by 20%.one/two/several etc of our/their number• Sometimes the goddess appears in the midst of the priestesses, manifesting as one of their number.• Lineage shaikhs designated one of their number to be a section shaikh, to represent them in affairs which concerned them all.• Finally one of their number stepped forward.• This is one of their number three or four guys.• Occultists also claim to cast out demons affecting or possessing one of their number, and even friends outside their magic circles.• Certainly women could tell, as men could, when one of their number was aroused.number2 ●○○ verb 1 [transitive]NUMBER to give a number to something that is part of an ordered set or list 给…编号2 BE[linking verb] if people or things number a particular amount, that is how many there are 数目有…3 somebody’s/something’s days are numbered FINISH/COME TO AN ENDused to say that someone or something cannot live or continue for much longer 某人生命垂危；某人活着/某事物存在的日子屈指可数4 number among something/be numbered among something formalINCLUDE to be included as one of a particular group 被认作[算作]某一团体中的一员5 [transitive] literaryCOUNT/CALCULATE to count something 计算，数6.number off phrasal verb British English PMAif soldiers number off, each one calls out their number when their turn comes 〔士兵〕报数 SYN American English count off→ See Verb tableExamples from the Corpus
number• The street door was locked so I pressed the button numbered 11 on the squawk box built into the porch.• In the capital, unemployed workers now number 12% of the workforce.• We will use squares numbered 2 to 41 on the width and squares 2 to 38 high, or multiples of this.• The first batch of railcoaches took fleet numbers 200-224, and a second was delivered in 1935 numbered 264-283.• Republicans now number 3 million and Democrats 3. 5 million.• Our student body numbered 400 last year.• It still seems like a recession to the unemployed workers, now numbering 5 percent of the workforce.• Fifteen years ago, Kenya's elephant population numbered 65,000.• The streets in the Bronx are numbered.• This function numbers all the pages in a document.• The crowd of students numbered at least 2000.• The program will automatically number the pages of your reports.• We finished numbering the seats just as the audience began to arrive.• Outside the breeding season they form flocks, sometimes numbering thousands.• If you don't number your answers, how will I know which questions they refer to?numbered consecutively• Each pad has an identifying number, and each check is numbered consecutively.• Except in the shortest of particulars of claim, allegations should be divided into paragraphs and numbered consecutively.From Longman Business Dictionarynumbernum‧ber1 /ˈnʌmbə-bər/ noun1[countable] a series of numbers used to identify someone or somethingHe checked the number on the file.Your account number is the last set of numbers on the bottom of your cheque.Please quote your credit card number in all correspondence. → see also telephone number2numbers [plural] how many people there are in a particular situation, activity etcAirline passenger numbers in America have more than doubled.a 25 percent increase in staff numbers3numbers [plural]ACCOUNTINGSTATISTICS figures or amounts, for example those in a company’s accounts or in statisticsThe numbers told the story: the marketing strategy was a success.If you run the numbers (=do the necessary calculations), there is no way you can make money renting the space at $30 a square foot.4[singular] the total amount of somethingnumber ofThe number of companies created in the first half of this year was 3.1% lower than last year.5number one/two etc informal the most important person or thing, the second most important etc in an organization or groupMr Steed is number two to the group chief executive. → see also DUNS number, opposite numbernumbernumber2 verb [transitive]1to be a particular amount or quantityAt that time, its employees numbered nearly 4,000.Sales numbered 8.1% fewer than a year before.2to give a number to things that are part of a set or listEach doll is individually numbered and comes with a certificate of authenticity.→ See Verb tableOrigin number1 (1200-1300) Old French nombre, from Latin numerusnum·ber1 noun →10-18
→5 GRAMMAR1 →GRAMMAR2 →COLLOCATIONS1 →COLLOCATIONS2number2 verbLDOCE OnlineChineseSyllable
→5 GRAMMAR1 →GRAMMAR2 →COLLOCATIONS1 →COLLOCATIONS2number2 verbLDOCE OnlineChineseSyllable
word Corpus Business that or sign represents a
number
num·ber1 S1 W1 /ˈnʌmbə $ -bər/ 
noun
They wrote various numbers on a large sheet of paper.
Add all the numbers together.
an even number (=2, 4, 6, 8 etc)
an odd number (=1, 3, 5, 7 etc)
a round number (=one ending in 0)
A hundred pounds is a good round number.
I’m no good with numbers.
2. PHONE [countable] a phone number:
My new number is 502–6155.
sb’s home/office/work number
I gave him my home number.
mobile/fax number
What’s your mobile number?
Sorry, you have the wrong number.
3. IN A SET/LIST [countable] a number used to show the position of something in an ordered set or list:
Answer question number 4.
a number 17 bus ⇨ E number, No. 10, number one1
4. FOR RECOGNIZING SOMEBODY/SOMETHING [countable] a set of numbers used to name or recognize someone or something
model/account etc number
What is your account number, please?
Press 1 to change the printer number.
Did you get the number (=registration number) of the car? British English ⇨ box number, PIN number, serial number
5. AMOUNT [uncountable and countable] an amount of something that can be counted
SYN quantity
the number of something
The number of cars on our roads rose dramatically last year.
a number of something
We have been friends for a number of years.
in number
The condors have dwindled to an estimated sixty in number.
GRAMMAR
Use a singular verb after the number of:
▪The number of farmers is decreasing. You are talking about the size of the group.
Use a plural verb after a number of:
▪A number of options were suggested. You are referring to the group.
6. numbers [plural] how many people there are, especially people attending an event or doing an activity together:
Can you give me some idea of numbers?
student/client etc numbers
Visitor numbers increase in the summer.
The sheer weight of numbers (=large number of people) on stage made the performance more impressive.
7. MUSIC [countable] a piece of popular music that forms part of a longer performance:
Madonna sang several numbers from her latest album. ⇨ production number
8. MAGAZINE [countable] British English a copy of a magazine or newspaper printed on a particular date
SYN issue
number of
I was reading the latest number of ‘Surfing’.
back numbers (=old copies) of ‘The Times’
9. have sb’s number informal to understand something about someone that helps you deal with them:
Judy had always had his number.
10. black/elegant etc (little) number informal a black, elegant etc dress or suit, especially a woman’s:
She was wearing a chic little number.
11. sb’s number comes up someone has the winning number in a competition
12. sb’s number is up (also sb’s number has come up) informal
a. used to say that someone will stop being lucky or successful
b. used to say that someone will die – used humorously:
She told her husband she didn’t mind going when her number was up.
13. the numbers
a. information about something that is shown using numbers:
Chris, have you got the numbers yet?
b. an illegal game in the US in which people risk money on the appearance of a combination of numbers in a newspaper:
playing the numbers
14. by numbers if you do something by numbers, you do it in a basic way by following a set of simple instructions – used to show disapproval:
The last thing we want is teaching by numbers.
15. do a number on somebody/something informal to hurt or damage someone or something badly:
Tod really did a number on the old house. I don’t envy the new tenants.
16. beyond/without number literary if things are beyond number, there are so many of them that no one could count them all
17. GROUP OF PEOPLE [uncountable] formal a group of people
one/two/several etc of our/their number
Only three of our number could speak Italian.
They wanted to choose a leader from among their own number.
18. GRAMMAR [uncountable] technical the form of a word, depending on whether one thing or more than one thing is being talked about:
‘Horses’ is plural in number, while ‘horse’ is singular.
■ adjectives
▪a lucky number (=a number you think gives you good luck) Three is my lucky number.
▪an even number (=2, 4, 6, 8 etc) All even numbers can be divided by 2.
▪an odd number (=1, 3, 5, 7 etc) You can’t work in pairs if you’ve got an odd number of people.
▪a round number (=a number ending in zero) A hundred is a nice round number.
▪a positive number (=a number that is more than zero) Maths is easier if you are dealing with positive numbers.
▪a negative/minus number (=a number that is less than zero) Can a negative number have a square root?
▪a prime number (=a number such as 13 that can be divided only by itself and 1) After 7, what is the next prime number?
▪a cardinal number (=a number such as 1, 2, or 3 that shows how many of something there are) Numbers go on to infinity, so there is no last cardinal number.
▪an ordinal number (=a number such as 1st, 2nd, or 3rd that shows where something comes in a series or list) The children learn about position and ordinal numbers when they stand in a line.
▪a whole number (=a number that is not a fraction)
■ verbs
▪add numbers together Add the two numbers together and divide by three.
▪add up numbers (=add several numbers together) Write all the numbers down, then add them up.
▪subtract one number from another Subtract this number from the total.
▪multiply one number by another What happens if you multiply a postive number by a negative number?
▪divide one number by another You can’t divide a prime number by any other number, except 1.
■ adjectives
▪a large/great number A large number of children were running around in the playground.
▪a vast/huge number (=very large) We’ve had a huge number of complaints.
▪a high number There seems to be no reason for the high number of suicides.
▪a considerable/substantial/significant number (=quite a large number) He received a substantial number of votes. | A considerable number of students left after the first year.
▪a good number (=quite a lot) He has written a good number of books for children.
▪a small number The class had only a small number of students.
▪a low number the low numbers of women involved in sports coaching
▪a limited number (=quite small) A limited number of copies were printed.
▪a tiny number (=very small) Only a tiny number of these animals remain in the wild.
▪a growing/increasing number An increasing number of women are entering the profession.
■ verbs
▪increase the number of something As you improve, increase the number of times you do each exercise.
▪reduce the number of something We need to reduce the number of cars on the road.
▪a number increases/goes up/grows/rises The number of mobile phones has increased dramatically.
▪a number doubles (=becomes twice as big) The number of road accidents has doubled in the last ten years.
▪a number falls/drops/goes down/decreases/declines The number of new houses being built is falling steadily.
▪a number halves (=becomes twice as small) The number of children failing at school has halved in recent years.
■ phrases
▪in large/increasing/limited etc numbers Birds nest here in large numbers.
▪any number of something (=a very large number of them) There have been any number of magazine articles about the celebrity couple.
▪bring the number to 25, 120 etc This will bring the number of jobs lost at the company to 85.
■ COMMON ERRORS
► Do not say 'a big number of people/things’. Say a large number of people/things.
number2 verb
They haven’t numbered the pages of the report.
All the seats in the theatre are numbered.
Each check is numbered consecutively.
a numbering system
number something (from) 1 to 10/100 etc
Number the questions 1 to 25.
2. [linking verb] if people or things number a particular amount, that is how many there are:
The population of the town numbered about 5,000.
The men on strike now number 5% of the workforce.
3. sb’s/sth’s days are numbered used to say that someone or something cannot live or continue for much longer:
I knew my days were numbered at that firm.
4. number among something/be numbered among something formal to be included as one of a particular group:
He was a successful corporate lawyer who numbered among his clients JPMorgan and Standard Oil.
5. [transitive] literary to count something:
Who can number the stars?
number off phrasal verb British English
if soldiers number off, each one calls out their number when their turn comes
SYN count off American English
| I |
noun Word Family: noun: number, numeral, numeracy, numerator, innumeracy; adjective: innumerable, numerical, numerous, numerate ≠ innumerate; verb: number, outnumber; adverb: numerically
Date: 1200-1300
Language: Old French
Origin: nombre, from Latin numerus
1. NUMBER [countable] a word or sign that represents an exact amount or quantity ⇨ numeral, figure:Language: Old French
Origin: nombre, from Latin numerus
an even number (=2, 4, 6, 8 etc)
an odd number (=1, 3, 5, 7 etc)
a round number (=one ending in 0)
2. PHONE [countable] a phone number:
sb’s home/office/work number
mobile/fax number
3. IN A SET/LIST [countable] a number used to show the position of something in an ordered set or list:
4. FOR RECOGNIZING SOMEBODY/SOMETHING [countable] a set of numbers used to name or recognize someone or something
model/account etc number
5. AMOUNT [uncountable and countable] an amount of something that can be counted
SYN quantity
the number of something
a number of something
in number
GRAMMAR
Use a singular verb after the number of:
▪
Use a plural verb after a number of:
▪
6. numbers [plural] how many people there are, especially people attending an event or doing an activity together:
student/client etc numbers
7. MUSIC [countable] a piece of popular music that forms part of a longer performance:
8. MAGAZINE [countable] British English a copy of a magazine or newspaper printed on a particular date
SYN issue
number of
9. have sb’s number informal to understand something about someone that helps you deal with them:
10. black/elegant etc (little) number informal a black, elegant etc dress or suit, especially a woman’s:
11. sb’s number comes up someone has the winning number in a competition
12. sb’s number is up (also sb’s number has come up) informal
a. used to say that someone will stop being lucky or successful
b. used to say that someone will die – used humorously:
13. the numbers
a. information about something that is shown using numbers:
b. an illegal game in the US in which people risk money on the appearance of a combination of numbers in a newspaper:
14. by numbers if you do something by numbers, you do it in a basic way by following a set of simple instructions – used to show disapproval:
15. do a number on somebody/something informal to hurt or damage someone or something badly:
16. beyond/without number literary if things are beyond number, there are so many of them that no one could count them all
17. GROUP OF PEOPLE [uncountable] formal a group of people
one/two/several etc of our/their number
18. GRAMMAR [uncountable] technical the form of a word, depending on whether one thing or more than one thing is being talked about:
| COLLOCATIONS |
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| COLLOCATIONS |
| (for Meaning 5) |
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■ COMMON ERRORS
► Do not say 'a big number of people/things’. Say a large number of people/things.
| II |
verb Word Family: noun: number, numeral, numeracy, numerator, innumeracy; adjective: innumerable, numerical, numerous, numerate ≠ innumerate; verb: number, outnumber; adverb: numerically
1. [transitive] to give a number to something that is part of an ordered set or list: number something (from) 1 to 10/100 etc
2. [linking verb] if people or things number a particular amount, that is how many there are:
3. sb’s/sth’s days are numbered used to say that someone or something cannot live or continue for much longer:
4. number among something/be numbered among something formal to be included as one of a particular group:
5. [transitive] literary to count something:
number off phrasal verb British English
if soldiers number off, each one calls out their number when their turn comes
SYN count off American English
