Basic Details
Word: Number
Part of Speech: Noun
Meaning: A word or symbol that tells you how many or which one, such as 7, seven or 304. It also means an amount, as in a large number of people.
Synonyms: figure, digit, numeral, quantity
How to Spell Number
Syllables: num - ber
Tricky part: The m and b sit together in the middle, and the word ends in er. Students sometimes write numbar or turn the u into o.
Watch out for: numbar, nomber, numbre
Memory tip: Number belongs to the mber family with member, remember, November and December. All of them end in m-b-e-r.
Idioms and Phrases
- safety in numbers: Being in a group makes you safer. Example: "We walked home from tuition together, since there is safety in numbers."
- look after number one: To think mainly of yourself. Example: "He only looks after number one and never shares his notes."
Usage Examples
Example 1: Please write your phone number on the form.
Example 2: Seven is my lucky number.
Example 3: A number of trees fell during the cyclone.
Fun Fact
The same spelling has a second word in it: number, said num-mer, means 'more numb', as in My fingers grew number in the cold.
Practise the CREST Way
Spell-o-Spell
Choose the meaning of the only misspelt word:
1. percentage 2. denominator 3. quotient 4. numbar
a) the part below the line in a fraction
b) a word or symbol that tells you how many
c) the answer you get when you divide
d) an amount out of every hundred
Show answer
b) a word or symbol that tells you how many. Numbar is the misspelt one: the word ends in er.
Word Connection
Choose the synonym of the word number as it is used in the sentence:
A large number of fans waited outside the stadium for the players.
a) distance
b) shortage
c) quality
d) quantity
Show answer
d) quantity. A large number means a large quantity; a shortage means too few.
Mingle-Mangle
Unjumble the letters to find the word that fits the sentence:
Write your roll bnmrue at the top of the answer sheet.
a) nimble
b) number
c) member
d) lumber
Show answer
b) number. Lumber has an l and member an extra m and e; the six letters given spell number.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. An odd number can never be divided exactly by ____.
a) five
b) two
c) seven
d) three
Show answer
b) two
2. 'A number of students were absent' means ____.
a) exactly one student was absent
b) no student was absent
c) the absent students were counted
d) several students were absent
Show answer
d) several students were absent
