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zero definition

zero (zir′ō, zē′rō)

noun pl. zeros -·ros or zeroes -·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 zeroed -·roed, zeroing -·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

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Alternate definitions:

business zero definition - business

medical zero definition - medical

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.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

zero Usage Examples

Object

  • tolerance: Values through car churchill insurance wheels zero tolerance ' ago mainly relying.

Converse of object

  • score: Trusts scoring zero are shown at the left margin; trusts with no value are shown at the right margin.

Adjective modifier

  • absolute: At a few hundred degrees above absolute zero, objects radiate strongly in the shorter wave infrared.

Modifies a noun

  • tolerance: This policy of " zero tolerance " toward sin shows God's justice.

Noun used with modifier

  • ground: Despite the Chancellor's much stated policy aim to raise UK productivity, 2005 looks like ground 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.
zero usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

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MLA Style

"zero." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 5 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/zero>

APA Style

zero. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 5th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/zero

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