natural numbers

== English == === Pronunciation === === Noun === natural numbers pl (normally plural, singular natural number) (mathematics) The set of positive integers, {1, 2, 3, ...}. (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 exclude it. ==== Synonyms ==== counting numbers (positive integers) whole numbers (either sense) ℕ ==== Related terms ==== set natural number inductive definition ==== Translations ==== === References === “natural number”, in Dictionary.com Unabridged, Dictionary.com, LLC, 1995–present. “natural number”, in The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 4th edition, Boston, Mass.: Houghton Mifflin, 2000, →ISBN. "natural number" in WordNet 2.0, Princeton University, 2003.