Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Number \Num"ber\, n. [OE. nombre, F. nombre, L. numerus; akin to
   Gr. ? that which is dealt out, fr. ? to deal out, distribute.
   See {Numb}, {Nomad}, and cf. {Numerate}, {Numero},
   {Numerous}.]
   1. That which admits of being counted or reckoned; a unit, or
      an aggregate of units; a numerable aggregate or collection
      of individuals; an assemblage made up of distinct things
      expressible by figures.

   2. A collection of many individuals; a numerous assemblage; a
      multitude; many.

            Ladies are always of great use to the party they
            espouse, and never fail to win over numbers.
                                                  --Addison.

   3. A numeral; a word or character denoting a number; as, to
      put a number on a door.

   4. Numerousness; multitude.

            Number itself importeth not much in armies where the
            people are of weak courage.           --Bacon.

   5. The state or quality of being numerable or countable.

            Of whom came nations, tribes, people, and kindreds
            out of number.                        --2 Esdras
                                                  iii. 7.

   6. Quantity, regarded as made up of an aggregate of separate
      things.

   7. That which is regulated by count; poetic measure, as
      divisions of time or number of syllables; hence, poetry,
      verse; -- chiefly used in the plural.

            I lisped in numbers, for the numbers came. --Pope.

   8. (Gram.) The distinction of objects, as one, or more than
      one (in some languages, as one, or two, or more than two),
      expressed (usually) by a difference in the form of a word;
      thus, the singular number and the plural number are the
      names of the forms of a word indicating the objects
      denoted or referred to by the word as one, or as more than
      one.

   9. (Math.) The measure of the relation between quantities or
      things of the same kind; that abstract species of quantity
      which is capable of being expressed by figures; numerical
      value.

   {Abstract number}, {Abundant number}, {Cardinal number}, etc.
      See under {Abstract}, {Abundant}, etc.

   {In numbers}, in numbered parts; as, a book published in
      numbers.

Number \Num"ber\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Numbered}; p. pr & vb. n.
   {Numbering}.] [OE. nombren, noumbren, F. nombrer, fr. L.
   numerare, numeratum. See {Number}, n.]
   1. To count; to reckon; to ascertain the units of; to
      enumerate.

            If a man can number the dust of the earth, then
            shall thy seed also be numbered.      --Gen. xiii.
                                                  16.

   2. To reckon as one of a collection or multitude.

            He was numbered with the transgressors. --Is. liii.
                                                  12.

   3. To give or apply a number or numbers to; to assign the
      place of in a series by order of number; to designate the
      place of by a number or numeral; as, to number the houses
      in a street, or the apartments in a building.

   4. To amount; to equal in number; to contain; to consist of;
      as, the army numbers fifty thousand.

            Thy tears can not number the dead.    --Campbell.

   {Numbering machine}, a machine for printing consecutive
      numbers, as on railway tickets, bank bills, etc.

   Syn: To count; enumerate; calculate; tell.

Source : WordNet®

number
     n 1: the property possessed by a sum or total or indefinite
          quantity of units or individuals; "he had a number of
          chores to do"; "the number of parameters is small"; "the
          figure was about a thousand" [syn: {figure}]
     2: a concept of quantity derived from zero and units; "every
        number has a unique position in the sequence"
     3: a short theatrical performance that is part of a longer
        program; "he did his act three times every evening"; "she
        had a catchy little routine"; "it was one of the best
        numbers he ever did" [syn: {act}, {routine}, {turn}, {bit}]
     4: a numeral or string of numerals that is used for
        identification; "she refused to give them her Social
        Security number" [syn: {identification number}]
     5: the number is used in calling a particular telephone; "he
        has an unlisted number" [syn: {phone number}, {telephone
        number}]
     6: a symbol used to represent a number; "he learned to write
        the numerals before he went to school" [syn: {numeral}]
     7: one of a series published periodically; "she found an old
        issue of the magazine in her dentist's waitingroom" [syn:
        {issue}]
     8: a select company of people; "I hope to become one of their
        number before I die"
     9: the grammatical category for the forms of nouns and pronouns
        and verbs that are used depending on the number of
        entities involved (singular or dual or plural); "in
        English the subject and the verb must agree in number"
     10: an item of merchandise offered for sale; "she preferred the
         black nylon number"; "this sweater is an all-wool number"
     11: a clothing measurement; "a number 13 shoe"

number
     v 1: add up in number or quantity; "The bills amounted to
          $2,000"; "The bill came to $2,000" [syn: {total}, {add
          up}, {come}, {amount}]
     2: give numbers to; "You should number the pages of the thesis"
     3: enumerate; "We must number the names of the great
        mathematicians" [syn: {list}]
     4: put into a group; "The academy counts several Nobel Prize
        winners among its members" [syn: {count}]
     5: determine the number or amount of; "Can you count the books
        on your shelf?"; "Count your change" [syn: {count}, {enumerate},
         {numerate}]
     6: place a limit on the number of [syn: {keep down}]