Zero

English Meaning

A cipher; nothing; naught.

1. The numerical symbol 0; a cipher.
2. Mathematics The identity element for addition.
3. Mathematics A cardinal number indicating the absence of any or all units under consideration.
4. Mathematics An ordinal number indicating an initial point or origin.
5. Mathematics An argument at which the value of a function vanishes.
6. The temperature indicated by the numeral 0 on a thermometer.
7. A sight setting that enables a firearm to shoot on target.
8. Informal One having no influence or importance; a nonentity: a manager who was a total zero.
9. The lowest point: His prospects were approaching zero.
10. A zero-coupon bond.
11. Informal Nothing; nil: Today I accomplished zero.
12. Of, relating to, or being zero.
13. Having no measurable or otherwise determinable value.
14. Informal Absent, inoperative, or irrelevant in specified circumstances: "The town has . . . practically no opportunities for amusement, zero culture” ( Robert M. Adams).
15. Meteorology Designating a ceiling not more than 16 meters (52 feet) high.
16. Meteorology Limited in horizontal visibility to no more than 55 meters (180 feet).
17. Linguistics Of or relating to a morpheme that is expected by an established, regular paradigm but has no spoken or written form. Moose has a zero plural; that is, its plural is moose.
18. To adjust (an instrument or a device) to zero value.
19. zero in To aim or concentrate firepower on an exact target location.
20. zero in To adjust the aim or sight of by repeated firings.
21. zero in To converge intently; close in: The children zeroed in on the display of toys in the store window.
22. zero out To eliminate (a budget or budget item) by cutting off funding.
23. zero out To reduce to zero.