English

Noun

natural numbers pl ‎(normally plural, singular natural number)

1. (mathematics) The set of positive integers, {1, 2, 3, ...}.
2. (mathematics, computer science) The set of non-negative integers, {0, 1, 2, 3, ...}.

Usage notes

In computer science, the natural numbers always include zero. In mathematics, some texts define them to include zero and some do not.

Synonyms

• counting numbers (positive integers)
• whole numbers (either sense)
• ℕ

Translations

Related terms

• set
• natural number
• inductive definition

References

• “natural number” in Dictionary.com Unabridged, v1.0.1, Lexico Publishing Group, 2006.
• “natural number” in The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition, Houghton Mifflin Company, 2000.
• "natural number" in WordNet 2.0, Princeton University, 2003.