The difference between Number and Numeral

When used as nouns, number means an abstract entity used to describe quantity, whereas numeral means a symbol that is not a word and represents a number, such as the arabic numerals 1, 2, 3 and the roman numerals i, v, x, l.


Number is also verb with the meaning: to label (items) with numbers.

Numeral is also adjective with the meaning: of or relating to numbers.

check bellow for the other definitions of Number and Numeral

  1. Number as a noun (countable):

    An abstract entity used to describe quantity.

    Examples:

    "Zero, one, -1, 2.5, and pi are all numbers."

  2. Number as a noun (countable):

    A numeral: a symbol for a non-negative integer.

    Examples:

    "The number 8 is usually made with a single stroke."

  3. Number as a noun (countable, mathematics):

    A member of one of several classes: natural numbers, integers, rational numbers, real numbers, complex numbers, quaternions.

    Examples:

    "The equation <math>e^{i\pi}+1=0</math> includes the most important numbers: 1, 0, <math>\pi</math>, <math>i</math>, and <math>e</math>."

  4. Number as a noun (Followed by a [[numeral]]; used [[attributive]]ly):

    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 &#x2116;). The symbol "#" is also used in this manner.

    Examples:

    "Horse number 5 won the race."

  5. Number as a noun:

    Quantity.

    Examples:

    "Any number of people can be reading from a given repository at a time."

  6. Number as a noun:

    A sequence of digits and letters used to register people, automobiles, and various other items.

    Examples:

    "Her passport number is C01X864TN."

  7. Number as a noun (countable, informal):

    A telephone number.

  8. Number as a noun (grammar):

    Of a word or phrase, the state of being singular, dual or plural, shown by inflection.

    Examples:

    "Adjectives and nouns should agree in gender, number, and case."

  9. Number as a noun (now, rare, in the plural):

    Poetic metres; verses, rhymes.

  10. Number as a noun (countable):

    A performance; especially, a single song or song and dance routine within a larger show.

    Examples:

    "For his second number, he sang "The Moon Shines Bright"."

  11. Number as a noun (countable, informal):

    A person.

  12. Number as a noun (countable, informal):

    An item of clothing, particularly a stylish one.

  13. Number as a noun (slang, chiefly, US):

    A marijuana cigarette, or joint; also, a quantity of marijuana bought form a dealer.

  14. Number as a noun (dated):

    An issue of a periodical publication.

    Examples:

    "the latest number of a magazine"

  1. Number as a verb (transitive):

    To label (items) with numbers; to assign numbers to (items).

    Examples:

    "Number the baskets so that we can find them easily."

  2. Number as a verb (intransitive):

    To total or count; to amount to.

    Examples:

    "I don’t know how many books are in the library, but they must number in the thousands."

  1. Number as an adjective:

  1. Numeral as a noun:

    A symbol that is not a word and represents a number, such as the Arabic numerals 1, 2, 3 and the Roman numerals I, V, X, L.

  2. Numeral as a noun (linguistics):

    A word representing a number.

  3. Numeral as a noun (card games):

    A card whose rank is a number (usually including the ace as 1).

    Examples:

    "Jacks, queens, and kings are not numerals."

  1. Numeral as an adjective:

    Of or relating to numbers; numerical.