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A Writer's Dictionary:

number Definition


Dictionary Home » Words Starting with N » nucha ... number two » number


numb
adj number, numbest
    1. Deprived completely, or to some degree, of sensation.
      Thesaurus: insensible, insensitive, deadened, dead, insensate, unfeeling, asleep, benumbed, stupefied, anesthetized, senseless, apathetic, lethargic, phlegmatic, listless, torpid, stunned; Antonym: sensitive.
    2. Too stunned to feel emotion; stupefied.
      Example: numb with shock
verb numbed, numbing
    1. To make something numb.
      Thesaurus: paralyse, stun, dull, deaden, stupefy, benumb, obtund.
    2. To deaden something.
Derivative: numbly
adverb
    Derivative: numbness
    noun
      The state or feeling of being deprived of sensation
        Thesaurus: deadness, dullness, stupefaction, insensibility, paralysis, anesthesia, insensitivity, torpor; Antonym: sensitivity.
    Etymology: 15c as nomen, meaning ‘seized', ie with paralysis: from nim to take.




    number
    noun
      1. The means or system by which groups or sets, etc of individual things, etc are counted; a quantity calculated in units.
        Thesaurus: amount, sum, total, totality, aggregate, estimate, count, figure, index, integer, quantity.
      2. One or more arithmetical symbols representing such a quantity; a numeral or set of numerals, eg 5 or V, 15 or XV.
      3. A numeral or set of numerals identifying something or someone within a series.
        Example: telephone numbers
      4. (with a numeral) the person, animal, vehicle, etc bearing the specified numeral.
        Example: Number 21 is pulling ahead
      5. A single one of a series, eg an issue of a magazine.
      6. A quantity of individuals.
      7. An act or turn in a programme.
      8. A piece of popular music or jazz.
      9. colloq
        An article or person considered appreciatively.
        Example: driving a white sports number
      10. A group or set.
        Example: isn't one of our number
      11. Numerical superiority.
        Example: overwhelmed by sheer weight of numbers
        Form: numbers
      12. grammar.
        The property of expressing, or classification of word forms into, singular and plural and, in some languages, ‘dual' (for two people, things, etc).
    verb numbered, numbering
      1. To give a number to something; to mark it with a number.
      2. To amount to (a specified amount).
        Example: a crowd numbering about 500
      tr & intr
      3. To list; to enumerate.
    Derivative: numberless
      Too many to count; innumerable.
        Thesaurus: countless, limitless, infinite, endless, innumerable, myriad, multitudinous, untold, unnumbered.
      Without a number.
    Idiom: any number of something
      Many of it.
    Idiom: by numbers
      Said of a procedure, etc: performed in simple stages, each stage being identified by a number.
    Idiom: one's days are numbered
      One is soon to die, or come to the end of something (eg a job) unpleasantly.
    Idiom: get someone's number (have someone's number)
      colloq
      To understand them; to have them sized up.
        Thesaurus: see through, understand, know, find out about, be on to.
    Idiom: one's number is up
      colloq
      One is due for some unpleasant fate, eg death or ruin.
    Idiom: there is safety in numbers
      In situations where there is a risk of harm, rejection or failure, etc it is better to be one of a group or to involve oneself in a number of activities or approach a number of people, etc.
    Idiom: without number
      More than can be counted; countless.
    Etymology: 13c: from French nombre, from Latin numerus.

    Phrasal Verb: number among, in or with something
      To include.
        Example: I number her among my enemies


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