zero









zero


noun, plural ze·ros, ze·roes.

  1. the figure or symbol 0, which in the Arabic notation for numbers stands for the absence of quantity; cipher.
  2. the origin of any kind of measurement; line or point from which all divisions of a scale, as a thermometer, are measured in either a positive or a negative direction.
  3. a mathematical value intermediate between positive and negative values.
  4. naught; nothing.
  5. the lowest point or degree.
  6. Linguistics. the absence of a linguistic element, as a phoneme or morpheme, in a position in which one previously existed or might by analogy be expected to exist, often represented by the symbol 0̷: Inflectional endings were reduced to zero. The alternant of the plural morpheme in “sheep” is zero.
  7. Ordnance. a sight setting for both elevation and windage on any particular range causing a projectile to strike the center of the target on a normal day, under favorable light conditions, with no wind blowing.
  8. Mathematics.
    1. the identity element of a group in which the operation is addition.
    2. (of a function, especially of a function of a complex variable) a point at which a given function, usually a function of a complex variable, has the value zero; a root.
  9. (initial capital letter) a single-engine Japanese fighter plane used in World War II.

verb (used with object), ze·roed, ze·ro·ing.

  1. to adjust (an instrument or apparatus) to a zero point or to an arbitrary reading from which all other readings are to be measured.
  2. to reduce to zero.
  3. Slang. to kill (a congressional bill, appropriation, etc.): The proposed tax increase has been zeroed for the time being.

adjective

  1. amounting to zero: a zero score.
  2. having no measurable quantity or magnitude; not any: zero economic growth.
  3. Linguistics. noting a hypothetical morphological element that is posited as existing by analogy with a regular pattern of inflection or derivation in a language, but is not represented by any sequence of phonological elements: the zero allomorph of “-ed” in “cut”; “Deer” has a zero plural.
  4. Meteorology.
    1. (of an atmospheric ceiling) pertaining to or limiting vertical visibility to 50 feet (15.2 meters) or less.
    2. of, relating to, or limiting horizontal visibility to 165 feet (50.3 meters) or less.
  5. Finance. zero-coupon.
  6. being or pertaining to the precise time, as a specific hour or second, when something must or does happen, as the explosion of a nuclear weapon: in an underground shelter at zero second.

Verb Phrases

  1. zero in, to aim (a rifle, etc.) at the precise center or range of a target.
  2. zero in on,
    1. to aim directly at (a target).
    2. to direct one’s attention to; focus on; concentrate on.
    3. to converge on; close in on.

noun plural -ros or -roes

  1. the symbol 0, indicating an absence of quantity or magnitude; noughtFormer name: cipher
  2. the integer denoted by the symbol 0; nought
  3. the cardinal number between +1 and –1
  4. nothing; nil
  5. a person or thing of no significance; nonentity
  6. the lowest point or degreehis prospects were put at zero
  7. the line or point on a scale of measurement from which the graduations commence
    1. the temperature, pressure, etc, that registers a reading of zero on a scale
    2. the value of a variable, such as temperature, obtained under specified conditions
  8. a gunsight setting in which accurate allowance has been made for both windage and elevation for a specified range
  9. maths
    1. the cardinal number of a set with no members
    2. the identity element of addition
  10. linguistics
    1. an allomorph with no phonetic realization, as the plural marker of English sheep
    2. (as modifier)a zero form
  11. Also called: zero-coupon bond finance a bond that pays no interest, the equivalent being paid in its redemption valueCompare Zebra

adjective

  1. having no measurable quantity, magnitude, etc
  2. meteorol
    1. (of a cloud ceiling) limiting visibility to 15 metres (50 feet) or less
    2. (of horizontal visibility) limited to 50 metres (165 feet) or less

verb -roes, -roing or -roed

  1. (tr) to adjust (an instrument, apparatus, etc) so as to read zero or a position taken as zero

determiner

  1. informal, mainly US no (thing) at allthis job has zero interest
n.

c.1600, from Italian zero, from Medieval Latin zephirum, from Arabic sifr “cipher,” translation of Sanskrit sunya-m “empty place, desert, naught” (see cipher (n.)). A brief history of the invention of “zero” can be found here. Meaning “worthless person” is recorded from 1813. Zero tolerance first recorded 1972, originally U.S. political language.

v.

in zero in, 1944, from zero (n.); the image is from instrument adjustments.

n. pl. ze•ros

  1. The numerical symbol 0, indicating the absence of quantity or mass.
  2. The temperature indicated by the numeral 0 on a thermometer.

v.

  1. To adjust an instrument or device to zero value.

  1. The numerical symbol 0, representing a number that when added to another number leaves the original number unchanged.
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