number [ ˈnʌmbər ] 数字；数量

例如：The number of independent firms decreased from 198 to 96.

独立公司的数量从198个减少到了96个。

numb [ nʌm ] 失去知觉的；呆滞的；麻木的

例如：He could feel his fingers growing numb at their tips.

他能感到指尖正在变得麻木。