one

Everyday

1. One is the number 1, the first and smallest whole number above zero. tree →
2. One means a single person or thing: one cup. tree →
3. As a pronoun, one stands for a thing already named: I want the red one. tree →
4. One can mean any person: One must be careful. tree →
5. «One another» means each other. tree →
6. One can mean «a certain»: one day, one morning. tree →
7. (casual) «A quick one» means a short drink or visit; «you're a funny one» means you're odd; «nice one!» (UK, Australia) means well done; «I owe you one» means I owe you a favour; «one sec» means wait a moment. tree →
8. (rough) «Give someone one», «land one on someone» means hit them; «you're a right one» is a sarcastic put-down. tree →
9. (formal) The exam voice says «a single», «unity», «a solitary», «one unit», «per unit», «a sole». tree →

In the lessons

an amount; «the size of one group» (one factor in multiplying); «one box holds 6 eggs» = size of one group; in maths ones are the units place (in 23 there are 3 ones); in everyday life «one by one», «one day» (in stories, some day), «one more», «one at a time»; in casual talk «nice one», «one sec», «I owe you one»; in the exam voice «a single unit», «per unit», «unity»

Examples

• I add one plum on the table. tree →
• We multiply the number of groups by the size of one group. tree →
• One box holds 6 eggs. How many eggs are in 4 boxes? tree →
• I have one brother and two sisters. tree →
• Which hat do you like? The blue one. tree →
• The children came in one by one. tree →
• In 47 there are 4 tens and 7 ones. tree →
• One day, a little fox left the forest. tree →
• Any number times one stays the same. tree →
• one sec, gotta grab 1 more chair tree →
• You got 20 out of 20? Nice one! tree →
• A single carton accommodates 6 eggs; determine the capacity of 4 such cartons. tree →
• One swallow does not make summer. tree →

Note

A number word: read it as 1. Trap: «one» can mean a person in a comparison, as in «than another one»; «one day» starts a story and is not a count of days; «one sec» is a short wait, not a second exactly. Order word «first» (1st). Any number multiplied by 1 stays the same. «a single» and «unity» in an exam mean one. Do not mix «one» with «won» (past of win): they sound the same.

In Jewish tradition

In "Hear, O Israel, the LORD is our God, the LORD is One," tradition reads one as God's unity, that there is only one God. Malachi's "one father" is read by tradition as either God or Abraham, and as a call for brotherhood among Israel.

Interpretation. Tradition reads one as God's unity, that there is only one God. It also reads the verse in Malachi as teaching that all Israel share one Father, so they should not deal falsely with each other.

Examples

• and threescore and one thousand asses, (Torah NUM.31.34, JPS 1917) tree →
• one he-goat, to make atonement for you. (Torah NUM.28.30, JPS 1917) tree →
• one male of the goats for a sin-offering; (Torah NUM.7.16, JPS 1917) tree →
• All the kings thirty and one. (Prophets JOS.12.24, JPS 1917) tree →
• Why is thy strong one overthrown? (Prophets JER.46.15, JPS 1917) tree →
• Have we not all one father? (Prophets MAL.2.10, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

A number word: read it as 1. Trap: «one» can mean a person in a comparison, as in «than another one»; «one day» starts a story and is not a count of days; «one sec» is a short wait, not a second exactly. Order word «first» (1st). Any number multiplied by 1 stays the same. «a single» and «unity» in an exam mean one. Do not mix «one» with «won» (past of win): they sound the same.

Meaning