cardinal number









cardinal number


noun

  1. Also called cardinal numeral. any of the numbers that express amount, as one, two, three, etc. (distinguished from ordinal number).
  2. Also called potency, power. Mathematics. a number or symbol analogous to the number of elements in a finite set, being identical for two sets that can be placed into one-to-one correspondence: The cardinal number of the set a1, a2, … an is n.

noun

  1. a number denoting quantity but not order in a setSometimes shortened to: cardinal
  2. maths logic
    1. a measure of the size of a set that does not take account of the order of its membersCompare natural number
    2. a particular number having this function
n.

1590s, “one, two, three,” etc. as opposed to ordinal numbers “first, second, third,” etc.; so called because they are the principal numbers and the ordinals depend on them (see cardinal (adj.)).

  1. A number, such as 3, 11, or 412, used in counting to indicate quantity but not order. Compare ordinal number.
56 queries 0.642