cardinal number
Definition from Wiktionary, the free dictionary
Contents |
[edit] English
[edit] Noun
cardinal number (plural cardinal numbers)
- A number used to denote quantity; a counting number.
- The smallest cardinal numbers are 0, 1, 2, and 3.
- The cardinal number "three" can be represented as "3" or "three".
- (mathematics) A generalized kind of number used to denote the size of a set, including infinite sets.
- (grammar) A word that expresses a countable quantity; a cardinal numeral.
- "Three" is a cardinal number, while "third" is an ordinal number.
[edit] Translations
number denoting quantity
|
|
number used to denote the size of a set
|
|
word that expresses a countable quantity
|
|
- The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables, removing any numbers. Numbers do not necessarily match those in definitions. See instructions at Help:How to check translations.
Translations to be checked
|
(word that expresses a countable quantity)
|
|
[edit] Usage notes
- Cardinal numbers are generally construed as nouns but function as adjectives. When functioning as adjectives, a cardinal number may only precede a countable noun, and the noun will be plural, except for one, 1, minus one, or -1:
- zero dogs
- one cat
- one hundred one dalmatians
- minus one degree
- minus five meters
- Cardinal numbers may be used as ordinal numbers when preceded by a singular countable noun, especially if preceded by the word number :
- Dog five was injured.
- Seal off number two bulkhead.
- zero can serve as quantifier indicating none:
- It has zero fat.
- Cardinal numbers can serve as a rating scale. The most common examples range from 0 or 1 to 10 or 100. In the 1-to-10 example, 0 and numbers bigger than 10 are used for hyperbole.
- Bo was once considered a 10.
- The pain is 1.
- I didn't like the lyrics, but it's kinda danceable: I give it a 75.
