have (someone's) number

1. Mathematics

   1. A member of the set of positive integers; one of a series of symbols of unique meaning in a fixed order that can be derived by counting.

   2. A member of any of the further sets of mathematical objects, such as negative integers and real numbers.

   3. A symbol or word used to represent a number.

   4. A numeral or a series of numerals used for reference or identification: his telephone number; the apartment number.

   5. A position in an ordered sequence that corresponds to one of the positive integers: the house that is number three from the corner; ranked number six in her class.

   6. One item in a group or series considered to be in numerical order: an old number of a magazine.

   7. A large quantity; a multitude: Numbers of people visited the fair.

   8. Numerical superiority: The South had leaders, the North numbers.

   9. Metrical feet or lines; verses: "These numbers will I tear, and write in prose" (Shakespeare).

   10. Obsolete Poetic meter.

2. numbers Arithmetic.

3. 1. A symbol or word used to represent a number.

   2. A numeral or a series of numerals used for reference or identification: his telephone number; the apartment number.

   3. A position in an ordered sequence that corresponds to one of the positive integers: the house that is number three from the corner; ranked number six in her class.

   4. One item in a group or series considered to be in numerical order: an old number of a magazine.

   5. A large quantity; a multitude: Numbers of people visited the fair.

   6. Numerical superiority: The South had leaders, the North numbers.

   7. Metrical feet or lines; verses: "These numbers will I tear, and write in prose" (Shakespeare).

   8. Obsolete Poetic meter.

4. 1. A position in an ordered sequence that corresponds to one of the positive integers: the house that is number three from the corner; ranked number six in her class.

   2. One item in a group or series considered to be in numerical order: an old number of a magazine.

   3. A large quantity; a multitude: Numbers of people visited the fair.

   4. Numerical superiority: The South had leaders, the North numbers.

   5. Metrical feet or lines; verses: "These numbers will I tear, and write in prose" (Shakespeare).

   6. Obsolete Poetic meter.

5. A total; a sum: the number of feet in a mile.

6. An indefinite quantity of units or individuals: The crowd was small in number. A number of people complained.

7. numbers

   1. A large quantity; a multitude: Numbers of people visited the fair.

   2. Numerical superiority: The South had leaders, the North numbers.

   3. Metrical feet or lines; verses: "These numbers will I tear, and write in prose" (Shakespeare).

   4. Obsolete Poetic meter.

8. Grammar The indication, as by inflection, of the singularity, duality, or plurality of a linguistic form.

9. numbers

   1. Metrical feet or lines; verses: "These numbers will I tear, and write in prose" (Shakespeare).

   2. Obsolete Poetic meter.

10. numbers Archaic Musical periods or measures.

11. numbers (used with a sing. or pl. verb) Games A numbers game.

12. Numbers (used with a sing. verb) Abbr. Num. or Nb See Table at Bible.

13. One of the separate offerings in a program of music or other entertainment: The band's second number was a march.

14. Slang A frequently repeated, characteristic speech, argument, or performance: suspects doing their usual number—protesting innocence.

15. Slang A person or thing singled out for a particular characteristic: a crafty number.

1. To assign a number to.

2. To determine the number or amount of; count.

3. To total in number or amount; add up to.

4. To include in a group or category: He was numbered among the lost.

5. To mention one by one; enumerate.

6. To limit or restrict in number: Our days are numbered.

1. To call off numbers; count: numbering to ten.

2. To constitute a group or number: The applicants numbered in the thousands.

Usage Note: As a collective noun number may take either a singular or a plural verb. It takes a singular verb when it is preceded by the definite article the: The number of skilled workers is small. It takes a plural verb when preceded by the indefinite article a: A number of the workers are unskilled.