Talk:number

Untitled

Is phone number in Russian expressed with номер? --Ferike333 16:58, 25 June 2009 (UTC)

Yes. —Stephen 17:02, 25 June 2009 (UTC)

Thank you. Ferike333 20:21, 25 June 2009 (UTC)

Group

Under which definition does the following use go? "When the saints go marching in, I want to be in their number". It seems to me that number here means a group, collective, set of certain quantity. A flock of sheep, a pack of wolves, a school of fish, and a number of people. --LA2 17:26, 22 August 2010 (UTC)

The "quantity" sense would technically seem to cover it, but yes, there are idioms that our entry doesn't really hint at. Equinox ◑ 13:45, 28 January 2020 (UTC)

A number of

How many is "a number of" as in: A number of people were killed or the like? I don't think this would typically mean just any number, would it? I'd interpret it as a fairly limited number. It could be more than 10, but not more than 100, and certainly not more than 1000. If you agree, it's probably an idiomatic sense.

See a number of. Equinox ◑ 17:04, 1 June 2018 (UTC)

numbers = statistics

e.g. "let's see what the numbers show us" (retail sales, television viewership, etc.). Does this deserve a separate sense? Okay, they are actual numbers (signs denoting quantity) but comparable words like "digits" probably wouldn't be used this way. Equinox ◑ 15:00, 6 May 2019 (UTC)

times without number

I'd like to know what meaning of number is used in times without number --Backinstadiums (talk) 18:51, 18 August 2019 (UTC)

"Times that are too many to be counted, so there is no number you could use to count them"; compare numberless. Equinox ◑ 20:14, 18 August 2019 (UTC)

@Equinox: without number is an idiom --Backinstadiums (talk) 19:18, 16 January 2020 (UTC)

I suppose so. We wouldn't say "without count" or "without sum" or "without total". So:  Done Equinox ◑ 13:42, 28 January 2020 (UTC)

numbers: U.S. type of gambling

numbers: a form of gambling in which people bet on an unpredictable number to be drawn or determined later (takes a singular or plural verb) 
Microsoft® Encarta® 2009

--Backinstadiums (talk) 12:07, 24 February 2020 (UTC)

= numbers game Equinox ◑ 13:21, 24 February 2020 (UTC)

Strange (mis)use by BBC news

"Lockdown in the Irish village of Dalkey, an affluent suburb of Dublin, has taken an unexpected turn since residents discovered that they currently number actor Matt Damon." 2A00:23C5:FE0C:2100:B453:BA04:3F16:7C4C 16:32, 19 April 2020 (UTC)

counting

noun (plural num·bers): the concept of calculating quantities of individual things
Microsoft® Encarta® 2009

--Backinstadiums (talk) 09:24, 12 May 2020 (UTC)

Seems wrong; otherwise "two numbers" would refer to two concepts...? Equinox ◑ 09:28, 12 May 2020 (UTC)

Relevant etymological thread on Reddit

https://www.reddit.com/r/linguistics/comments/gqszj9/where_did_the_b_in_number_come_from/ —Justin (koavf)❤T☮C☺M☯ 10:21, 26 May 2020 (UTC)

numbers: numerical strength; a greater amount:

numbers: 
numerical strength; a greater amount:
There is strength in numbers.
https://www.wordreference.com/definition/numbers

--Backinstadiums (talk) 10:06, 31 July 2020 (UTC)

I left my number with Dan.

What meaning is used in I left my number with Dan? --Backinstadiums (talk) 15:26, 16 October 2020 (UTC)

phone Equinox ◑ 06:25, 17 October 2020 (UTC)

a good number

As in most people can, but a good number are not inclined to. Simiarly, a good deal --Backinstadiums (talk) 16:03, 29 January 2021 (UTC)

a number of. Other adjectives may be inserted, e.g. "small". Even without "of" it's already covered by this entry number. Equinox ◑ 18:03, 29 January 2021 (UTC)

In large numbers of cases

Which meaning(s) is used in in large numbers of cases ? --Backinstadiums (talk) 17:45, 15 February 2021 (UTC)

Number reads "Quantity: Any number of people." Yet, is numbers a mass noun? Although enough modifies either count nouns <enough books> or mass nouns <enough stamina>, sufficient should modify only mass nouns <sufficient oxygen>, so the usage problem can be solved by making it sufficient numbers of. "There are exceptions to the general rule: sufficient (or more often insufficient) funds" [For the AHD, both numbers and funds are "plural only" nouns]. --Backinstadiums (talk) 15:08, 12 August 2021 (UTC)

RFV discussion: April–June 2023

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number

Large amount of damage. Evidently do a number on is intended, but "number" alone might not occur. Equinox ◑ 07:50, 8 April 2023 (UTC)

• Failed. - TheDaveRoss 13:11, 13 June 2023 (UTC)

Another solution could've been using a Only used in do a number on label, surely? --Overlordnat1 (talk) 00:10, 20 June 2023 (UTC)