numbers

Noun

number (countable and uncountable, plural numbers)

1. Quantity of countable things.
   • Any number of people can be reading from a given repository at a time.
2. (countable) An abstract entity used to describe quantity.
   • Zero, one, −1, 2.5, and pi are all numbers.
3. (countable) A numeral: a symbol for a non-negative integer.
   • The number 8 is usually made with a single stroke.

   Synonyms:

   scalar, rime

4. (countable) An element of one of several sets: natural numbers, integers, rational numbers, real numbers, complex numbers, and sometimes extensions such as hypercomplex numbers, etc.
   • The equation e#123;i#92;pi#125;#43;1#61;0 includes the most important numbers: 1, 0, #92;pi, i, and e.
5. (attributive, Followed by a numeral) Indicating the position of something in a list or sequence. Abbreviations: No or No., no or no. (in each case, sometimes written with a superscript "o", like Nº or №). The symbol "#" is also used in this manner.
   • Horse number 5 won the race.
6. A sequence of digits and letters used to register people, automobiles, and various other items.
   • Her passport number is C01X864TN.

See all 26 meanings of number

Noun

numbers game (plural numbers games)

1. A lottery in which bettors attempt to guess which numbers will later be drawn randomly; especially, an illicit one.
   • Back in that day, mafias ran the numbers games and there was no such thing as a state lottery.

   Synonyms:

   numbers[Appendix:Glossary

2. The incorrect use of statistics (numbers) to reflect a desired result (usually misleading).
   • They're playing a numbers game to make it look like seat belts and vaccines are dangerous.
3. An activity that benefits from having many things to work with or on; a focus on quantity.
   • In this business, breakeven is a numbers game: if you can achieve enough volume, you'll be all right.
4. (uncommon) A game or sport that is dominated by analytics.
   • Somehow, to me, it's not quite as fun now that they've turned it into a numbers game.