cipher
1ci·pher
noun, often attributive \ˈsī-fər\Definition of CIPHER
2
a : a method of transforming a text in order to conceal its meaning — compare code 3b b : a message in code
3
4
: a combination of symbolic letters; especially : the interwoven initials of a name
Examples of CIPHER
- a cipher that can't be decoded
- She was nothing more than a cipher.
Origin of CIPHER
Middle English, from Medieval Latin cifra, from Arabic ṣifr empty, cipher, zero
First Known Use: 14th century
Related to CIPHER
Rhymes with CIPHER
2cipher
verbci·pheredci·pher·ing \-f(ə-)riŋ\
Definition of CIPHER
intransitive verb
: to use figures in a mathematical process
transitive verb
1
: encipher
2
: to compute arithmetically
Examples of CIPHER
- <were surprised by how much we had spent on the cruise after we had ciphered out the grand total>
First Known Use of CIPHER
circa 1530
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