n.
- 數，數字[C]
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The
number of students absent is five.
有五名學生缺席。
- 號碼；第……號[C]
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Sam lives at
number 20 Park Street.
山姆住在派克街二十號。
- 數量；總數[C][U][（+of）]
- 一類人，一幫人[S]
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He is not of our
number.
他不是我們這樣的人。
- 多數；數量上的優勢[P1]
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Strength lies in
numbers.
人多力量大。
- 算術[P]
- （雜誌等的）期，號[C]
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His essay was carried in the June
number.
他的散文登載在六月號上。
- 演奏樂曲；上演節目[C]
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Her
numbers were well received.
她演唱的幾支歌曲很受歡迎。
- 【口】一件衣服；一類事物之一[S1]
- 【文】數[U]
- 【俚】重複的演說，辯論或表演；老套
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a heavy
number困難的處境；困難的情形
The suspects will do their usual
number -- protesting innocence -- and then confess.
嫌犯們總會來他們的老套，先說他們是無辜的，然後才供認罪行。
vt.
- 編號，給……號碼
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These tickets are not
numbered.
這些票上沒有編號。
- 計入，算作[（+among/as/with）]
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They
numbered her among their best friends.
他們把她看作是最好的朋友之一。
- 使為數有限[H]
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The old man's days are
numbered.
這位老人的日子屈指可數了。
- 數……的數目
vi.
- 總數達到，共計[L][Q]
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Their readers
number in the millions.
它們的讀者數以百萬計。
- 計入，算作[（+among/as/with）]
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He
numbers among the best French playwrights.
他躋身法國最優秀劇作家的行列。
片語
a number of
- 一些
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A number of people have left.
一些人已走了。
by number
- 以數字
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She knows all the rooms in the building
by number and she will tell you where room 324 is.
她知道這幢大樓裡所有房間的號碼，她可以告訴你三二四房間在哪裡。
in number
- 在數字上；總共
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We were 30
in number.
我們總共三十人。
number among/in
- 把……算作
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We
number him
among our friends.
我們把他算作朋友。
number off
- （列隊時）報數
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The soldiers
numbered off, straight from the right-hand man.
士兵從右邊開始報數。
numbers of
- 許多
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Numbers of people came to the meeting.
許多人來參加會議。
one's/the opposite number
- 對等的人（或物）
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An international meeting between each minister and
his opposite number will be held next month.
下月將舉行部長級的國際會議。
to the number of
- 達到……的數目；合計數為
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There were people
to the number of 100 who had taken part in the competition.
共計有一百人參加比賽。
without number
- 多得數不清
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I have been there for times
without number.
我已去過那裡無數次。
辨析
n.
- an arithmetical value, expressed by a word, symbol, or figure, representing a particular quantity.
- a quantity or amount.
▸
(a number of)
several.
▸
(numbers)
a large quantity or amount; numerical preponderance.
- chiefly Brit. a single issue of a magazine.
- a song, dance, or other musical item.
- informal an item of clothing of a particular type:
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a little black number.
- a grammatical classification of words that consists typically of singular and plural.
v.
- amount to.
- assign a number to.
▸count.
- include as a member of a group.
Phrase
- by numbers
following simple instructions identified or as if identified by numbers. - someone's
(or something's)
days are numbered
someone or something will not survive or remain in power for much longer. - do a number on
N. Amer. informal deceive or disparage. - have someone's number
informal understand a person's real motives or character. - one's number is up
informal one is doomed to die or suffer some other disaster or setback.
[with ref. to a lottery number or a number by which one may be identified.]
- without number
too many to count.
Derivative
Usage
The construction the number of + plural noun is used with a singular verb (as in the number of people affected remains small). By contrast, the apparently similar construction a number of + plural noun is used with a plural verb (as in a number of people remain to be contacted).
Etymology
ME: from OFr. nombre (n.), nombrer (v.), from L. numerus.
