zero

number

1. The cardinal number occurring before one and that denotes no quantity or amount at all, represented in Arabic numerals as 0. The conductor waited until the passenger count was zero.

   Similar: 0, cipher, goose egg, love, naught, nil, no, nought, null, zilch, zippo

noun zeros · zeroes

1. countable, uncountable The numeric symbol that represents the cardinal number zero. In unary and k-adic notation in general, zero is the empty string.

   Similar: cipher

2. countable, uncountable The digit 0 in the decimal, binary, and all other base numbering systems. One million has six zeroes.

   Similar: slashed zero

3. informal, uncountable Nothing, or none. zero-defect
4. countable, uncountable The value of a magnitude corresponding to the cardinal number zero. The electromagnetic field does not drop all of the way to zero before a reversal.
5. countable, uncountable The point on a scale at which numbering or measurement originates. The temperature outside is ten degrees below zero.
6. countable, uncountable A value of the independent variables of a function, for which the function is equal to zero. The zeroes of a polynomial are its roots by the fundamental theorem of algebra.
7. countable, uncountable The additive identity element of a monoid or greater algebraic structure, particularly a group or ring. Since a commutative zero is the inverse of any additive identity, it must be unique when it exists.

   Similar: additive identity

8. countable, slang, uncountable A person dismissed as unimportant. They rudely treated him like a zero.

   Similar: cipher, nobody, nonentity, loser, absolute zero, assbucket, asswipe, badling, blatherskite, bugger, carrion, cockstain

9. countable, uncountable A difference that is present at an abstract level, but not realized in the form, that is, superficially (on the surface). Sometimes a difference in intended meaning has only a zero to mark it, in which case the utterance may be ambiguous when context alone does not fully clarify it.
10. countable, historical, informal, uncountable A casual misspelling of Zero ("a fighter aircraft operated by Imperial Japan during World War II").
11. countable, uncountable A setting of calibrated instruments such as a firearm, corresponding to a zero value.
12. countable, uncountable A security which has a zero coupon (paying no periodic interest). The takeovers were financed by issuing zeroes.

Similar: value of a function’s variables at zero, origin, zero point, nadir · Opposite: pole

determiner

1. Synonym of no. She showed zero respect.

   Similar: no.

adjective

1. not comparable Of a cloud ceiling, limiting vision to 50 feet (15 meters) or less.

   Similar: no

2. not comparable Of horizontal visibility, limited to 165 feet (50.3 meters) or less.
3. not comparable Present at an abstract level, but not realized in the surface form. The stem of "kobieta" with the zero ending is "kobiet".
4. not comparable, postpositional Used in the names of foodstuffs, especially beverages, to indicate a version with no calories

verb zeroes · zeros · zeroing · zeroed

1. transitive To set some amount to be zero. They tried to zero the budget by the end of the quarter.

   Similar: tare, zero out

2. To disappear or make something disappear. Traffic on the encrypted channels used by senior Iraqi generals had peaked and zeroed, then peaked again, and zeroed again.
3. To adjust until the variance is reduced to an acceptably low amount. The soldier took his gun to the shooting range to zero its aim.

proper noun the Zero

1. A model of fighter aircraft, the Mitsubishi A6M Zero, operated by Imperial Japan during World War II. The Zero was renowned for its dogfighting capabilities and its range.

noun Zeros · Zeroes

1. Any specific instance of that model. A Zero had been shot down earlier, and we were hoping that the pressure was off, but just then two more Zeroes came in quite low, and we were suddenly in a sticky situation.