number one

1 is a number, numeral, and grapheme. It is the first and smallest positive integer of the infinite sequence of natural numbers. This fundamental property has led to its unique uses in other fields, ranging from science to sports, where it commonly denotes the first, leading, or top thing in a group. 1 is the unit of counting or measurement, and represents a single thing. The representation of 1 evolved from ancient Sumerian and Babylonian symbols to the modern Arabic numeral. Linguistically, in English, "one" is a determiner for singular nouns and a gender-neutral pronoun.