number 2

English

Noun

number 2 (plural number 2s)

1. Alternative spelling of number two
2. Short form of number 2 pencil
   • 1996, Bill Henderson (ed.), Minutes of the Lead Pencil Club: pulling the plug on the electronic revolution, Pushcart, page 15:

     The standard number 2 is a mixture of about two-thirds graphite and one-third clay. If you like darker, broader lines, you can use a number 1, which includes less clay. For lighter, finer lines, try a number 3 or A, which include more clay.

   • 2000, Julie M. Gillentine, Jonathan Sharp, Alan Oken, Constance Stellas, The Hidden Power of Everyday Things: A Complete Personology Guide to Your Lifestyle for Each Day of the Year, Simon and Schuster, page 560:

     You may prefer to write in pencil and a supply of good number 2s will delight you.

   • 2002, Joyce Schenk, I've Become My Mother: And Other Observations, iUniverse, page 38:

     My first pencils, and the ones I still use most, were the familiar orange-yellow number 2s.