zero Hear it!

zero Definition

zero (zir′ō, zē′rō)

noun pl. -·ros or -·roes

  1. the symbol or numeral 0, representing the complete absence of any quantity or magnitude
  2. the point, marked 0, from which positive or negative quantities are reckoned on a graduated scale, as on a thermometer; specif.,
    1. on a centigrade thermometer, the freezing point of water
    2. on a Fahrenheit thermometer, a point 32° below the freezing point of water
  3. a temperature that causes a thermometer to register zero
  4. the point intermediate between positive and negative quantities
  5. nothing
  6. the lowest point his chances of success sank to zero
  7. Gunnery a sight setting for a range, allowing for both elevation and windage

Etymology: Fr zéro < It zero < Ar ṣifr, cipher

adjective

  1. of or at zero
  2. without measurable value
  3. Informal not any; no a snack having zero cholesterol
  4. Aeron.
    1. designating or of a ceiling that is at or near the ground, specif. one at a height of fifty feet or lower
    2. designating or of visibility along the ground regarded as within the limit of a few feet
  5. Linguis. designating a hypothetical inflectional form the plural of deer is said to be formed by the addition of a zero allomorph of the plural morpheme

transitive verb -·roed, -·ro·ing

to adjust (an instrument, etc.) to a zero point or to an arbitrary point from which all positive and negative readings are to be measured

zero Idioms

zero in

  1. to adjust the zero of (a gun)
  2. to aim (a gun) or concentrate (firepower) directly at or on (a target)

zero in on

  1. to adjust gunfire so as to be aiming directly at (a target)
  2. to concentrate attention on; focus on
zero Synonyms

zero

n.

  1. A cipher

    naught, nothing, nadir, love, below freezing, the lowest point, goose egg*, zip*, zilch*, duck egg*, nix*.

  2. Nothing

    nullity, oblivion, void; see blank 1.

zero Usage Examples

Object

  • raster: WritableRaster createCompatibleDestRaster ( Raster src ) Creates a zeroed destination Raster with the correct size and number of bands, given this source.
  • tolerance: Values through car churchill insurance wheels zero tolerance ' ago mainly relying.

Converse of object

  • trail: All values must be given to the correct precision, including trailing zeros.
  • score: Trusts scoring zero are shown at the left margin; trusts with no value are shown at the right margin.
  • reach: You must not let your ammo reach zero or the cheat won't work.
  • add: If you need to force a scalar to a number, add a zero to it.
  • drop: Callers should then dial " 44 " for the UK, then your telephone number, dropping the initial zero.

Adjective modifier

  • absolute: At a few hundred degrees above absolute zero, objects radiate strongly in the shorter wave infrared.
  • leading: For numbers smaller than 10, a leading zero is present.
  • initial: Callers should then dial " 44 " for the UK, then your telephone number, dropping the initial zero.
  • near: Closure of the reactors by 2009 would allow Sellafield to reprocess all remaining Magnox fuel before the 2020 " near zero " deadline.

Modifies a noun

  • tolerance: This policy of " zero tolerance " toward sin shows God's justice.
  • popularity: From their point of view zero popularity is a time wasting.
  • emission: Award-winning Beaufort Court is the world's first zero carbon emissions commercial development.
  • rating: The UK's right to have a zero rating was granted in 1977 and was meant to be in place for 4 years!
  • carbon: Award-winning Beaufort Court is the world's first zero carbon emissions commercial development.

Noun used with modifier

  • ground: Despite the Chancellor's much stated policy aim to raise UK productivity, 2005 looks like ground zero.
  • VAT: Prices Price including postage and packing to UK only ( VAT zero rated ) - £ 70.
  • column: The main part of the screen contains the paper on which you write and the cursor blinks away at line zero, column zero.

Used with why or when

  • when: When it is time to weight again, the scale resets to zero automatically when the animal gets on the scale.