Less common numerical expressions
gazillion, threescore, umpteen...
with example sentences
a fraction of (noun): a small proportion of — Unfortunately, she earns only a fraction of what she used to in her previous job.
baker's dozen (noun): a group or set of thirteen. See dozen — I asked the baker for a dozen bagels, but she kindly gave me a baker's dozen, which was 13 instead of 12.
bi- (prefix): two; having two — bisexual | A bicycle has two wheels.
brace (noun): a pair of similar things — Martin appeared at the door holding a brace of chickens in his left hand.
catch-22 (noun): a difficult circumstance or dilemma from which there is no escape — It's a catch-22 situation; I can't find a job without work experience, yet in order to get work experience I need a job.
couple (noun): two people or things of a similar type — There are a couple of mouldy oranges in the fruit bowl.
di- (prefix): twice; two; double — dichromatic | A person who has a dilemma is faced with a difficult choice between two courses of action or things.
dozen (noun): 12. A group of twelve items — When I was at the shop this morning, I picked up two dozen eggs. Now we need a dozen more.
duo (noun): a pair of people or things of the same sort — John and Sam make an interesting duo.
fourfold (adverb): by four times. See fold — The cost of petrol has increased fourfold this past year. It was $2.00. Now it's $8.00.
fourfold (adjective): four times as many. See fold — There has been a fourfold increase in murders in the past year. This year, murders went from 100 to 400.
threefold, fourfold etc (adjective, adverb)
In this sense "fold" means "multiplied by". So you can add "fold" after almost any number to indicate "multiplied by that number". For example:
- threefold — Each aftershock intensifies threefold.
- tenfold — The population has increased tenfold since those days.
- hundredfold — There was a hundredfold rise in the currency's exchange rate.
- thousandfold — That represents a thousandfold increase in the use of pollutants.
fourscore (cardinal number, archaic): eighty, 80. See score — besieged by fourscore winters
gazillion, kazillion (cardinal number): a very large quantity (used for emphasis) — There were gazillions of flies around the body.
gross (noun): an amount equal to twelve dozen; 144 — We ordered a gross of biscuits to serve at the tea party.
gross: see gross vs net
gross vs net
- gross (adjective): (of income, fee etc) the total before the deduction of tax, discount etc — His gross salary is $60,000 per year.
- net (adjective): (of income, fee etc) the amount remaining after deduction of tax, discount etc — After tax his net earnings are $50,000 per year.
half-dozen, half a dozen (noun): a set or group of six. See dozen — I need a half-dozen sandwiches. | We ordered half a dozen muffins.
net: see gross vs net
pair (noun): a set of two items used together or regarded as a unit — I brought an extra pair of socks in case this pair gets wet.
quadruple (adjective): four times as much as usual — I was feeling low, so I ordered a quadruple vodka.
quadruple (verb): to increase four times — The tree has quadrupled in size in the past ten years.
quadruplet (noun): one of four babies born at the same birth — The youngest quadruplet was much smaller than its siblings.
quartet (noun): a group of four people or things, usually musicians – They are a talented quartet and are well-known for their controversial lyrics.
quintet (noun): a group of five people or things, usually musicians — The quintet is performing in concert next Saturday.
score (noun): a group of twenty, or about twenty – I baked a score of biscuits and put them in a box. | There were scores of armed police outside his door.
several (determiner, pronoun): more than two but not many — He has written several books. | She invited some friends and several came.
solo (adverb): by one person alone — I much prefer travelling solo these days.
solo (adjective): done by a single person; unaccompanied — The first solo flight around the world was in 1935 by Wiley Post.
solo (noun): a piece of music performed by one musician — After the cellist completed her solo, the audience stood up and cheered.
soloist (noun): a single musician who performs a solo — The soloist picked up her flute and started to play.
threescore (cardinal number, literary): 60. (3 x 20). See score —
threescore years and ten (expression, literary): 70 years, the presumed lifespan of humans. (3 x 20) + 10. See score — The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away. (Psalms 90:10. Bible, King James Version)
thrice (adverb): three times; on three occasions — He was thrice married. | Take a dose of 25mg thrice daily.
tri- (prefix): three; having three — triathlon | A tricycle has three wheels.
trillion (cardinal number): a million million (1,000,000,000,000 or 1012) — Their national debt now exceeds 30 trillion dollars. | There are trillions of stars in the sky.
trio (noun): a group of three people, often musicians — They are a talented trio, who have written and played some well-known songs.
triple (adjective): consisting of or involving three items or parts — Larry was holding a triple cone of ice cream.
triple (verb): to increase by three times — During their first year of life, most babies triple in size.
triplet (noun): one of three babies born at the same birth — Sara is a triplet and so shares the same birthday as her brother and sister.
umpteen (cardinal number): a lot of, indefinitely many — I've told him umpteen times not to put empty milk cartons back in the fridge.
umpteenth (ordinal number): referencing something that has happened on many (but an unspecified number of) occasions — This is the umpteenth time I've told you. No, they're not coming until tomorrow!
uni- (prefix): one; having one — unicellular | A unicycle has only one wheel.