Zero Definition

zîrō, zērō

zeroed, zeroes, zeroing, zeros

noun

zeros

The symbol or numeral 0, representing the complete absence of any quantity or magnitude.

Webster's New World

The point, marked 0, from which positive or negative quantities are reckoned on a graduated scale, as on a thermometer.

Webster's New World

The identity element for addition.

American Heritage

A cardinal number indicating the absence of any or all units under consideration.

American Heritage

The point intermediate between positive and negative quantities.

Webster's New World

Synonyms:

Antonyms:

adjective

Of or at zero.

Webster's New World

Without measurable value.

Webster's New World

Absent, inoperative, or irrelevant in specified circumstances.

American Heritage

Not any; no.

A snack having zero cholesterol.

Webster's New World

Designating or of a ceiling that is at or near the ground, specif. one at a height of fifty feet or lower.

Webster's New World

Synonyms:

Synonyms:
0

verb

zeroed, zeroes, zeroing

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.

Webster's New World

(computing) To change a memory location or range to values of zero; to set a variable in a computer program to zero.

Results were inconsistent because an array wasn't zeroed during initialization.

Wiktionary

To cause or set some value or amount to be zero.

They tried to zero the budget by the end of the quarter.

Wiktionary

To eliminate; to delete; to overwrite with zeros.

Wiktionary

(intransitive) To disappear.

Wiktionary

Synonyms:

Synonyms:
zero in

idiom

zero in

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

Webster's New World

zero in on

to adjust gunfire so as to be aiming directly at (a target)
to concentrate attention on; focus on

Webster's New World

Other Word Forms of Zero

Noun

Singular:

zero

Plural:

zeros, zeroes

Idioms, Phrasal Verbs Related to Zero

Origin of Zero

From French zéro, from Italian zero, from Medieval Latin zephirum, from Arabic صفر (á¹£ifr, “nothing, cipher").

From Wiktionary
Italian from alteration of Medieval Latin zephirum from Arabic ṭifr nothing, cipher cipher

From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition