zero

¹ze·ro

noun \ˈzē-(ˌ)rō, ˈzir-(ˌ)ō\

plural zeros also zeroes

Definition of ZERO

1

a : the arithmetical symbol 0 or 0̸ denoting the absence of all magnitude or quantity

b : additive identity; specifically : the number between the set of all negative numbers and the set of all positive numbers

c : a value of an independent variable that makes a function equal to zero <+2 and −2 are zeros of f(x)=x²−4>

2

the absence of a measurable quantity — see number table

3

a (1) : the point of departure in reckoning; specifically : the point from which the graduation of a scale (as of a thermometer) begins (2) : the temperature represented by the zero mark on a thermometer

b : the setting or adjustment of the sights of a firearm that causes it to shoot to point of aim at a desired range

4

: an insignificant person or thing : nonentity

5

a : a state of total absence or neutrality

b : the lowest point : nadir

6

: something arbitrarily or conveniently designated zero

Examples of ZERO

1. Two minus two equals zero.
2. It's supposed to fall below zero tonight.
3. The temperature is 10° above zero.
4. They are working to reduce the mortality rate to zero.

Origin of ZERO

French or Italian; French zéro, from Italian zero, from Medieval Latin zephirum, from Arabic ṣifr

First Known Use: 1598

Related to ZERO

Synonyms

aught, cipher, goose egg, naught (also nought), nil, nothing, o, oh, zilch, zip

Antonyms

big shot, big wheel, bigwig, eminence, figure, kahuna, kingpin, magnate, nabob, personage, somebody, VIP

Related Words

blank, void

Near Antonyms

chief, head, lead, leader; celebrity, luminary, notable, personality, planet, star, superstar; authority, superior; great power, party, power

Other Number-Related Terms

jubilee, myriad, quarantine, score, twain

²zero

adjective

Definition of ZERO

1

a : of, relating to, or being a zero

b : having no magnitude or quantity : not any <zero growth> <zero tolerance>

c (1) : having no phonetic manifestation <the zero modification in the past tense of cut> (2) : having no modified inflectional form <a zero plural>

2

a of a cloud ceiling : limiting vision to 50 feet (15 meters) or less

b of horizontal visibility : limited to 165 feet (50.3 meters) or less

First Known Use of ZERO

1810

³zero

verb

Definition of ZERO

transitive verb

1

: to determine or adjust the zero of (as a rifle)

2

a : to concentrate firepower on the exact range of —usually used with in

b : to bring to bear on the exact range of a target —usually used with in

intransitive verb

1

: to adjust fire on a specific target —usually used with in

2

: to close in on or focus attention on an objective —usually used with in <investigators are zeroing in on a suspect>

First Known Use of ZERO

1913

ze·ro

noun \ˈzē-(ˌ)rō, ˈzi(ə)r-(ˌ)ō\   (Medical Dictionary)

plural ; zerosalso ; zeroes

Medical Definition of ZERO

1

: the arithmetical symbol 0 or 0̸ denoting the absence of all magnitude or quantity

2

a : the point of departure in reckoning; specifically : the point from which the graduation of a scale (as of a thermometer) begins b : the temperature represented by the zero mark on a thermometer

zero

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

Number and numeral of critical importance in mathematics. Zero is known as the additive identity because adding it to any number does not change the number's identity, or value. The product of zero and any number is zero; for most number systems the converse is true—that is, if the product of two numbers is zero, at least one of them must equal zero. The latter property is fundamental to the solution of nearly every problem in mathematics. Division by zero is undefined; efforts to deal with such divisions led to calculus. Various punctuation marks were first used in Mesopotamia beginning about 700 BC to indicate an empty space in positional notation, but never at the end of a number—the difference between, say, 78 and 780 had to be understood from the context. Ptolemy first used 0, or the Greek letter omicron “,” as an empty placeholder, including at the end of a number, to express data in the Babylonian sexagesimal system in his astronomical treatise Almagest (c. 130 AD). The Hindu-Arabic numerals and treatment of zero as a number developed between the 6th and 9th centuries in India. Zero soon followed trade routes to China, the Islamic world, and Europe.