by the numbers

num·​berˈnəm-bər

adv.

合拍地，系统地，按常规地

noun

a sum of units : total

the number of people in the hall

the characteristic of an individual by which it is treated as a unit or of a collection by which it is treated in terms of units

there is a limited number of such laboratories—P. D. Close

a unit belonging to an abstract mathematical system and subject to specified laws of succession, addition, and multiplicationespecially: natural number

a number divisible by 2

a distinction of word form to denote reference to one or more than onealso: a form or group of forms so distinguished

A subject and its verb should agree in number.

metrical structure : meter

… most by numbers judge a poet's song.—Alexander Pope

archaic musical sounds : notes

a word, symbol, letter, or combination of symbols representing a number

Spell out the numbers one through ten.

a numeral or combination of numerals or other symbols used to identify or designate

dialed the wrong number

a member of a sequence or collection designated by especially consecutive numbers (such as an issue of a periodical)

just received issue number 8 of the magazine

a group of one kind

not of their number

one singled out from a group : individual: such as

girl, woman

met an attractive number at the dance

a musical, theatrical, or literary selection or production

The actors broke into a song and dance number.

stunt, trick

an act of transforming or impairing

tripped and did a number on her knee

an item of merchandise and especially clothing

put that black velvet number with the sequins on the blonde dummy—Bennett Cerf

insight into a person's ability or character

had my number

a form of lottery in which an individual wagers on the appearance of a certain combination of digits (as in regularly published numbers) called alsonumbers game

policy entry 2 sense 2a

figures representing amounts of money usually in dollars spent, earned, or involved

We won't be able to stay in business with numbers like these.

statistics sense 2especially: individual statistics (as of an athlete)

Her numbers make her the most valuable member of the team.

a person represented by a number or considered without regard to individuality

at the university I was just a number

lifetime sense 1a—used with up

the old feeling that comes to men in combat … that your number was up—Geoffrey Norman

verb

transitive verb

count, enumerate

to claim as part of a total : include

to restrict to a definite number

your days are numbered

to assign a number to

number the pages

to amount to in number : total

the crew numbers 100

intransitive verb

to reach a total number

to call off numbers in sequence

noun

a sum of units : total

the number of people in the hall

the characteristic of an individual by which it is treated as a unit or of a collection by which it is treated in terms of units

there is a limited number of such laboratories—P. D. Close

a unit belonging to an abstract mathematical system and subject to specified laws of succession, addition, and multiplicationespecially: natural number

a number divisible by 2

a distinction of word form to denote reference to one or more than onealso: a form or group of forms so distinguished

A subject and its verb should agree in number.

metrical structure : meter

… most by numbers judge a poet's song.—Alexander Pope

archaic musical sounds : notes

a word, symbol, letter, or combination of symbols representing a number

Spell out the numbers one through ten.

a numeral or combination of numerals or other symbols used to identify or designate

dialed the wrong number

a member of a sequence or collection designated by especially consecutive numbers (such as an issue of a periodical)

just received issue number 8 of the magazine

a group of one kind

not of their number

one singled out from a group : individual: such as

girl, woman

met an attractive number at the dance

a musical, theatrical, or literary selection or production

The actors broke into a song and dance number.

stunt, trick

an act of transforming or impairing

tripped and did a number on her knee

an item of merchandise and especially clothing

put that black velvet number with the sequins on the blonde dummy—Bennett Cerf

insight into a person's ability or character

had my number

a form of lottery in which an individual wagers on the appearance of a certain combination of digits (as in regularly published numbers) called alsonumbers game

policy entry 2 sense 2a

figures representing amounts of money usually in dollars spent, earned, or involved

We won't be able to stay in business with numbers like these.

statistics sense 2especially: individual statistics (as of an athlete)

Her numbers make her the most valuable member of the team.

a person represented by a number or considered without regard to individuality

at the university I was just a number

lifetime sense 1a—used with up

the old feeling that comes to men in combat … that your number was up—Geoffrey Norman

verb

transitive verb

count, enumerate

to claim as part of a total : include

to restrict to a definite number

your days are numbered

to assign a number to

number the pages

to amount to in number : total

the crew numbers 100

intransitive verb

to reach a total number

to call off numbers in sequence

Noun Middle English nombre, numbre, noumer, borrowed from Anglo-French nombre, numbre (also continental Old French nombre), going back to Latin numerus "numerical sum or symbol, quantity, aggregate" — more at nimble Verb Middle English nombren, noumbren, nowmeryn, in part derivative of nombre number >entry 1, in part borrowed from Anglo-French nombrer, numbrer, going back to Latin numerāre "to add up, count, reckon, compute," derivative of numerus "numerical sum or symbol, quantity, aggregate" — more at number >entry 1

The first known use of number was in the 14th century

by1 of 3preposition

close to : near

by the sea

so as to go along or through enter by the door

by a different route

past entry 2 sense 2

went right by them

at, during

studied by night

not later than

be there by 2 p.m.

through the means or agency of

by force

according to sense 1 called by a different name

by the rules

with respect to

a doctor by profession

to or in the amount or length of sold by the pound

win by a nose

in a series of

walk two by two

—used as a function word in multiplication and division and in measurementsa room 15 feet by 20 feet

divide 6 by 2

in the opinion of

it's fine by me

by2 of 3adverb

close at hand : near

standing by

at or to another's home

stop by for a chat

past entry 4

cars went by

aside entry 1 sense 2

putting some money by

by3 of 3noun

something incidental

by1 of 3preposition

close to : near

by the sea

so as to go along or through enter by the door

by a different route

past entry 2 sense 2

went right by them

at, during

studied by night

not later than

be there by 2 p.m.

through the means or agency of

by force

according to sense 1 called by a different name

by the rules

with respect to

a doctor by profession

to or in the amount or length of sold by the pound

win by a nose

in a series of

walk two by two

—used as a function word in multiplication and division and in measurementsa room 15 feet by 20 feet

divide 6 by 2

in the opinion of

it's fine by me

by2 of 3adverb

close at hand : near

standing by

at or to another's home

stop by for a chat

past entry 4

cars went by

aside entry 1 sense 2

putting some money by

by3 of 3noun

something incidental

head1 of 3noun

the upper or front part of the body (as of a human being or an insect) that contains the brain, the chief sense organs, and the mouth

mind entry 1 sense 2, understanding

a good head for figures

control of the mind or feelings

kept a level head in time of danger

the side of a coin bearing a head or the major design

person sense 1, individual

count heads

plural head one of a number (as of livestock)

100 head of cattle

the end that is upper or higher or opposite the foot

the head of the bed

the uppermost part : top

a skin or something like a thin piece of skin stretched across one or both ends of a drum

headmaster

a compact mass of plant parts (as leaves or flowers)

a head of cabbage

the place where a stream begins

the difference in elevation between two points in a body of fluid

the resulting pressure at the lower pointalso: pressure of a fluid

a head of steam

the place of leadership or command

the person at the head of the group

a person in this place : chief, leader

the foam that rises on a foaming liquid

the part of a boil, pimple, or abscess at which it is likely to break

crisis sense 2

events came to a head

a part of a machine, tool, or weapon that performs the main function a machine with a grinding head

head of a lance

head2 of 3adjective

principal, chief

head cook

placed at the head

sat at the head table at the banquet

coming from in front

head sea

head3 of 3verb

to form a head

this cabbage heads early

to be or put oneself at the head of : lead head the list of heroes

head a revolt

to get in front of so as to hinder, stop, or turn back

head them off at the pass

to take a lead over (as in a race)

to go or point in a specified course head the ship north

head for home

head1 of 3noun

the upper or front part of the body (as of a human being or an insect) that contains the brain, the chief sense organs, and the mouth

mind entry 1 sense 2, understanding

a good head for figures

control of the mind or feelings

kept a level head in time of danger

the side of a coin bearing a head or the major design

person sense 1, individual

count heads

plural head one of a number (as of livestock)

100 head of cattle

the end that is upper or higher or opposite the foot

the head of the bed

the uppermost part : top

a skin or something like a thin piece of skin stretched across one or both ends of a drum

headmaster

a compact mass of plant parts (as leaves or flowers)

a head of cabbage

the place where a stream begins

the difference in elevation between two points in a body of fluid

the resulting pressure at the lower pointalso: pressure of a fluid

a head of steam

the place of leadership or command

the person at the head of the group

a person in this place : chief, leader

the foam that rises on a foaming liquid

the part of a boil, pimple, or abscess at which it is likely to break

crisis sense 2

events came to a head

a part of a machine, tool, or weapon that performs the main function a machine with a grinding head

head of a lance

head2 of 3adjective

principal, chief

head cook

placed at the head

sat at the head table at the banquet

coming from in front

head sea

head3 of 3verb

to form a head

this cabbage heads early

to be or put oneself at the head of : lead head the list of heroes

head a revolt

to get in front of so as to hinder, stop, or turn back

head them off at the pass

to take a lead over (as in a race)

to go or point in a specified course head the ship north

head for home

heel1 of 4noun

the back part of the human foot behind the arch and below the anklealso: the corresponding part of a lower vertebrate

the part of the palm of the hand nearest the wrist

a part (as of a shoe) that covers or supports the human heel

a lower, back, or end partespecially: one of the crusty ends of a loaf of bread

a person who deserves contempt

heel2 of 4verb

to provide with a heel

heel3 of 4verb

to tilt to one side : tip

heel4 of 4noun

a tilt to one side

heel1 of 4noun

the back part of the human foot behind the arch and below the anklealso: the corresponding part of a lower vertebrate

the part of the palm of the hand nearest the wrist

a part (as of a shoe) that covers or supports the human heel

a lower, back, or end partespecially: one of the crusty ends of a loaf of bread

a person who deserves contempt

heel2 of 4verb

to provide with a heel

heel3 of 4verb

to tilt to one side : tip

heel4 of 4noun

a tilt to one side

number1 of 2noun

the total of persons, things, or units taken together : amount

the number of people in the room

the possibility of being counted

mosquitoes in swarms beyond number

a total that is not specified : many

a number of accidents occur on wet roads

a unit belonging to a mathematical system and subject to its laws

a number divisible by 2

plural arithmetic

a quality of a word form that shows whether the word is singular or plural

a verb agrees in number with its subject

a word, symbol, or letter used to represent a mathematical number

a certain numeral for telling one person or thing from another or from others

a phone number

one in a series

the June number of a magazine

a musical, theatrical, or literary selection

number2 of 2verb

count entry 1 sense 1a, enumerate

to claim as part of a total : include

was numbered among the guests

to restrict to a definite number

vacation days are numbered now

to assign a number to

number the pages of a scrapbook

to add up to or have a total of

our group numbered ten in all