ZERO

zero

(adjective) indicating the absence of any or all units under consideration; “a zero score”

zero

(adjective) indicating an initial point or origin

zero

(adjective) having no measurable or otherwise determinable value; “the goal is zero population growth”

zero

(adjective) of or relating to the null set (a set with no members)

zero

(noun) the sight setting that will cause a projectile to hit the center of the target with no wind blowing

zero, zero point

(noun) the point on a scale from which positive or negative numerical quantities can be measured

nothing, nil, nix, nada, null, aught, cipher, cypher, goose egg, naught, zero, zilch, zip, zippo

(noun) a quantity of no importance; “it looked like nothing I had ever seen before”; “reduced to nil all the work we had done”; “we racked up a pathetic goose egg”; “it was all for naught”; “I didn’t hear zilch about it”

zero, nought, cipher, cypher

(noun) a mathematical element that when added to another number yields the same number

zero, zero in

(verb) adjust (as by firing under test conditions) the zero of (a gun); “He zeroed in his rifle at 200 yards”

zero

(verb) adjust (an instrument or device) to zero value

Source: WordNet® 3.1

---

Etymology

Numeral

zero

The cardinal number occurring before one and that denotes no quantity or amount at all, represented in Arabic numerals as 0.

Usage notes

• In an adjectival sense, used with the plural of a countable noun or with an uncountable noun

Synonyms

• zero

• cipher

• (informal) goose egg

• love (tennis)

• naught (US)

• nought

• nil

• no

• null

Noun

zero (countable and uncountable, plural zeroes or zeros)

The numeric symbol that represents the cardinal number zero.

The digit 0 in the decimal, binary, and all other base numbering systems.

(informal, uncountable) Nothing, or none.

The value of a magnitude corresponding to the cardinal number zero.

The point on a scale at which numbering or measurement originates.

(mathematics) A value of the independent variables of a function, for which the function is equal to zero.

(mathematics, algebra) The additive identity element of a monoid or greater algebraic structure, particularly a group or ring.

(slang) A person of little or no importance.

(military) A Mitsubishi A6M Zero, a long range fighter aircraft operated by the Japanese Navy Air Service from 1940 to 1945.

A setting of calibrated instruments such as a firearm.

(finance) A security which has a zero coupon (paying no periodic interest).

Synonyms

• (numeric symbol zero): cipher

• (digit zero): slashed zero

• (point of origin on a scale): origin, zero point

• (lowest point): nadir

• (negligible or irrelevant amount): naught, nil, nothing, nought, nowt, null, (informal) bugger all, (informal) fuck all, nada, sod all, sweet FA, sweet Fanny Adams, zilch, zip

• (person of little importance): cipher, nobody, nonentity

• (value of a function’s variables at zero): root

• (identity element of a monoid): additive identity

Antonyms

• (value of a function's variables at zero): pole

Hyponyms

• absolute zero

• ground zero

• negative zero

• positive zero

• size zero

Holonyms

• (value of a function's variables at zero): kernel

Adjective

zero (not comparable)

(informal) no, not any

(meteorology) Of a cloud ceiling, limiting vision to 50 feet (15 meters) or less.

(meteorology) Of horizontal visibility, limited to 165 feet (50.3 meters) or less.

(linguistics) Present at an abstract level, but not realized in the surface form.

Synonyms

• (informal: virtually none): no

Verb

zero (third-person singular simple present zeros or zeroes, present participle zeroing, simple past and past participle zeroed)

(transitive) To set a measuring instrument to zero; to calibrate instrument scale to valid zero.

(transitive, computing) To change a memory location or range to values of zero; to set a variable in a computer program to zero.

(transitive) To cause or set some value or amount to be zero.

(transitive) To eliminate; to delete; to overwrite with zeros.

(intransitive) To disappear

Synonyms

• (to set to zero): tare

• (to cause to be zero): zero out

Source: Wiktionary

---

Ze"ro, n; pl. Zeros or Zeroes. Etym: [F. zéro, from Ar. çafrun, çifrun, empty, a cipher. Cf. Cipher.]

1. (Arith.)

Definition: A cipher; nothing; naught.

2. The point from which the graduation of a scale, as of a thermometer, commences.

Note: Zero in the Centigrade, or Celsius thermometer, and in the Réaumur thermometer, is at the point at which water congeals. The zero of the Fahrenheit thermometer is fixed at the point at which the mercury stands when immersed in a mixture of snow and common salt. In Wedgwood's pyrometer, the zero corresponds with 1077° on the Fahrenheit scale. See Illust. of Thermometer.

3. Fig.: The lowest point; the point of exhaustion; as, his patience had nearly reached zero. Absolute zero. See under Absolute.

– Zero method (Physics), a method of comparing, or measuring, forces, electric currents, etc., by so opposing them that the pointer of an indicating apparatus, or the needle of a galvanometer, remains at, or is brought to, zero, as contrasted with methods in which the deflection is observed directly; -- called also null method.

– Zero point, the point indicating zero, or the commencement of a scale or reckoning.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition

---