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cipher Definition

ci·pher (sī′fər)

noun

  1. the symbol 0, indicating a value of zero
  2. a person or thing of no importance or value
    1. a system of secret writing based on a key, or set of predetermined rules or symbols
    2. a message in such writing
    3. the key to such a system
  4. an intricate weaving together of letters, as a monogram
  5. an Arabic numeral

Etymology: ME cifre < OFr cyfre < ML cifra < Ar ṣifr, ṣefr, a cipher, nothing < ṣafara, to be empty

intransitive verb, transitive verb

  1. to solve (an arithmetic problem)
  2. to write in or with a cipher ()

cipher Synonyms

cipher

n.

naught, blank, goose egg*; see zero 1.

cipher Synonyms

cipher

v.

compute, figure, do arithmetic; see add 1, calculate 1, count.

cipher Telecom Definition

A system of secret writing based on a set of rules for encrypting or encoding data, converting plain text into symbolic code that can be interpreted only with the key to the code. A cipher is used to secure information against unauthorized use.

cipher Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • initialize: See Also: Constant Field Values DECRYPT_MODE public static final int DECRYPT_MODE Constant used to initialize cipher to decryption mode.
  • baffle: Near the body, police have found a baffling cipher.
  • break: The Dancing Men [ 80 k ] The story of how Sherlock Holmes broke a symbol cipher.

Adjective modifier

  • polyalphabetic: All three of them designed polyalphabetic ciphers which were difficult to break, for at least another 200 years.
  • symmetric: Can you state, in general, what property a symmetric cipher needs to have for this to work?
  • mere: He was no mere cipher: this was a moment of genuine emotion.
  • royal: Eva also owned four small envelopes, each bearing the royal cipher, which she claimed once held private letters from the Queen.
  • simple: It is the simple royal cipher surmounted by the Hellenic crown.

Modifies a noun

  • suite: There are several reasons why an enabled cipher suite might not actually be used.
  • symbol: However, it is too soon to firmly identify cipher symbols.
  • machine: Lorenz The Lorenz was an even more complex cipher machine than Enigma.
  • strength: The second row of detail should show the current cipher strength.
  • object: Note: if any exception is thrown, this cipher object may need to be reset before it can be used again.
  • message: Please burn the cipher message, which can now be of no use to you.

Noun used with modifier

  • transposition: Most agents in occupied Europe made mistakes when using SOE's double transposition ciphers which were difficult to use, especially in the field.
  • Caesar: This method is still called the Caesar cipher, regardless the size of the shift used for the substitution.
  • substitution: Group task to decipher full page substitution cipher message.
  • encryption: Note for Windows XP users: The first time you use PuTTY you should change the default encryption cipher selection policy to 3DES.
  • block: The chip uses two block ciphers that are loosely modeled on DES.
  • stream: A secure PRNG is simply a good stream cipher.

Browse dictionary entries near cipher

  1. ‹ Cipango
  2. ‹ CIP
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  5. ‹ CIO
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  8. ‹ cinquecentist
  9. ‹ Cinque Ports
  10. ‹ cinnamon stone
  1. Cipher or Cryptographic Algorithm ›
  2. Ciphertext ›
  3. cipolin ›
  4. Cipro ›
  5. cir ›
  6. ciré ›
  7. circa ›
  8. circadian ›
  9. Circassia ›
  10. Circassian ›