- number
- ▪ I. number num‧ber 1 [ˈnʌmbə ǁ -bər] noun1. [countable] a series of numbers used to identify someone or something:
• He checked the number on the file.
• Your account number is the last set of numbers on the bottom of your cheque.
ˌbank identifiˈcation ˌnumber [countable] BANKINGa set of numbers found on a cheque book, bank card, or bank letter, showing which branch (= office) of a bank it relates to; = sort codeˈbox ˌnumber also ˈpost office box ˌnumber [countable]an address used by a firm for receiving letters at a post office instead of its own address:• It is usually best to avoid box numbers in advertisements as they tend to put people off replying.
ˈPIN ˌnumber [countable] BANKINGpersonal identification number; a secret number given to you by your bank that you use when getting money from a cash machine with a card; = PIN:• Never tell anyone your PIN number.
ˈserial ˌnumber [countable] MANUFACTURINGa number used on things that are produced in large quantities, making it possible to identify each one:• All of our guns have a unique serial number.
2. numbers [plural] how many people there are in a particular situation, activity etc:• Airline passenger numbers in America have more than doubled.
• a 25 percent increase in staff numbers
3. numbers [plural] ACCOUNTING STATISTICS figures or amounts, for example those in a company's accounts or in statistics:• The 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 something:serial number of• The number of companies created in the first half of this year was 3.1% lower than last year.
5. number one/two etc informal the most important person or thing, the second most important etc in an organization or group:[m0] ▪ II. number number 2 verb [transitive]1. to be a particular amount or quantity:• At that time, its employees numbered nearly 4,000.
• Sales numbered 8.1% fewer than a year before.
2. to give a number to things that are part of a set or list:• Each doll is individually numbered and comes with a certificate of authenticity.
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Ⅰ.number UK US /ˈnʌmbər/ noun (ABBREVIATION No.)► [C] a set of numbers that marks a particular person or thing as separate from others of the same type: account/invoice/order number »Include your account number and the name of the fund in which you want to invest.
contact/telephone/mobile number »Please leave a contact number.
»a credit card/registration/identification number
► [C] an amount of people or things: the number of sth »The number of employees taking legal action over work-related disease is increasing.
a growing/increasing/declining number »Regulators are seeing a growing number of stock frauds directed at small investors.
the maximum/minimum/total number »The total number of people in employment has increased by more than 234,000 (16.1%).
»a large/record number
»a small/limited number
→ See also BANK IDENTIFICATION NUMBER(Cf. ↑bank identification number), BOX NUMBER(Cf. ↑box number), DUNS NUMBER(Cf. ↑DUNS number), OPPOSITE NUMBER(Cf. ↑opposite number), PIN(Cf. ↑PIN), ROUTING NUMBER(Cf. ↑routing number), SERIAL NUMBER(Cf. ↑serial number), SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER(Cf. ↑Social Security Number)Ⅱ.number UK US /ˈnʌmbər/ verb► [T] to give something a number in a series: »Documents filed under the Act must be numbered.
► [I or T] if people or things number 100, 1 million, etc., there are that number of them: »At its peak, the workforce involved in building the new airport terminal numbered 50,000.
number in the hundreds/thousands/millions, etc. »Their fan base numbers in the tens of millions worldwide.
Financial and business terms. 2012.
