- (n.) A combination or interweaving of letters, as the initials of a name; a device; a monogram; as, a painter's cipher, an engraver's cipher, etc. The cut represents the initials N. W.
- (n.) A character in general, as a figure or letter.
- (n.) A private alphabet, system of characters or other mode of writing, contrived for the safe transmission of secrets; also, a writing in such characters.
- (v.t.) To decipher.
- (v.i.) To use figures in a mathematical process; to do sums in arithmetic.
- (a.) Of the nature of a cipher; of no weight or influence.
- (v.t.) To get by ciphering; as, to cipher out the answer.
- (v.t.) To designate by characters.
- (n.) A character [0] which, standing by itself, expresses nothing, but when placed at the right hand of a whole number, increases its value tenfold.
- (v.t.) To write in occult characters.
- (n.) One who or that which, has no weight or influence.
Cipher and Zero
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
noun
- A message written in a secret code.
- synonyms: cypher
- A mathematical element that when added to another number yields the same number.
- A quantity of no importance.
- usage: "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"
- A person of no influence.
- A secret method of writing.
- synonyms: cypher, cryptograph, secret code
verb
WordNet 3.0 © 2006 by Princeton University
(DoD) Any cryptographic system in which arbitrary symbols (or groups of symbols) represent units of plain text of regular length, usually single letters; units of plain text are rearranged; or both, in accordance with certain predetermined rules. See also cryptosystem.
Department of Defense Dictionary of Military and Associated Terms. 31 January 2011.
noun
- A quantity of no importance.
- usage: "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"
- A mathematical element that when added to another number yields the same number.
- The point on a scale from which positive or negative numerical quantities can be measured.
- synonyms: zero point
- The sight setting that will cause a projectile to hit the center of the target with no wind blowing.
verb
- Adjust (an instrument or device) to zero value.
- Adjust (as by firing under test conditions) the zero of (a gun. )
- usage: "He zeroed in his rifle at 200 yards"
- synonyms: zero in
adjective
- Indicating the absence of any or all units under consideration.
- usage: "a zero score"
- synonyms: 0
- Having no measurable or otherwise determinable value.
- usage: "the goal is zero population growth"
- Indicating an initial point or origin.
- Of or relating to the null set (a set with no members. ).
WordNet 3.0 © 2006 by Princeton University
- (n.) The point from which the graduation of a scale, as of a thermometer, commences.
- (n.) Fig.: The lowest point; the point of exhaustion; as, his patience had nearly reached zero.
- (n.) A cipher; nothing; naught.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary