zero

American  

[zeer-oh] / ˈzɪər oʊ /

noun

• zeros,
  plural
• zeroes
  plural

1. the figure or symbol 0, which in the Arabic notation for numbers stands for the absence of quantity; cipher.

2. the origin of any kind of measurement; line or point from which all divisions of a scale, as a thermometer, are measured in either a positive or a negative direction.

3. a mathematical value intermediate between positive and negative values.

4. naught; nothing.

5. the lowest point or degree.

6. Linguistics. the absence of a linguistic element, as a phoneme or morpheme, in a position in which one previously existed or might by analogy be expected to exist, often represented by the symbol 0̷.

   Inflectional endings were reduced to zero. The alternant of the plural morpheme in “sheep” is zero.

7. Ordnance. a sight setting for both elevation and windage on any particular range causing a projectile to strike the center of the target on a normal day, under favorable light conditions, with no wind blowing.

8. Mathematics.

   1. the identity element of a group in which the operation is addition.

   2. (of a function, especially of a function of a complex variable) a point at which a given function, usually a function of a complex variable, has the value zero; a root.

9. (initial capital letter) a single-engine Japanese fighter plane used in World War II.

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verb (used with object)

• zeroes,
  present (3rd person singular)
• zeroed,
  past participle,  past
• zeroing
  present participle

1. to adjust (an instrument or apparatus) to a zero point or to an arbitrary reading from which all other readings are to be measured.

2. to reduce to zero.

3. Slang. to kill (a congressional bill, appropriation, etc.).

   The proposed tax increase has been zeroed for the time being.

adjective

1. amounting to zero.

   a zero score.

2. having no measurable quantity or magnitude; not any.

   zero economic growth.

3. Linguistics. noting a hypothetical morphological element that is posited as existing by analogy with a regular pattern of inflection or derivation in a language, but is not represented by any sequence of phonological elements.

   the zero allomorph of “-ed” in “cut”; “Deer” has a zero plural.

4. Meteorology.

   1. (of an atmospheric ceiling) pertaining to or limiting vertical visibility to 50 feet (15.2 meters) or less.

   2. of, relating to, or limiting horizontal visibility to 165 feet (50.3 meters) or less.

5. Finance. zero-coupon.

6. being or pertaining to the precise time, as a specific hour or second, when something must or does happen, as the explosion of a nuclear weapon.

   in an underground shelter at zero second.

verb phrase

1. zero in to aim (a rifle, etc.) at the precise center or range of a target.

2. zero in on

   1. to aim directly at (a target).

   2. to direct one's attention to; focus on; concentrate on.

   3. to converge on; close in on.

zero British  

/ ˈzɪərəʊ /

noun

1. Former name: cipher.  the symbol 0, indicating an absence of quantity or magnitude; nought

2. the integer denoted by the symbol 0; nought

3. the cardinal number between +1 and –1

4. nothing; nil

5. a person or thing of no significance; nonentity

6. the lowest point or degree

   his prospects were put at zero

7. the line or point on a scale of measurement from which the graduations commence

8. 1. the temperature, pressure, etc, that registers a reading of zero on a scale

   2. the value of a variable, such as temperature, obtained under specified conditions

9. a gunsight setting in which accurate allowance has been made for both windage and elevation for a specified range

10. maths

    1. the cardinal number of a set with no members

    2. the identity element of addition

11. linguistics

    1. an allomorph with no phonetic realization, as the plural marker of English sheep

    2. ( as modifier )

       a zero form

12. Also called: zero-coupon bond.  finance a bond that pays no interest, the equivalent being paid in its redemption value Compare Zebra

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adjective

1. having no measurable quantity, magnitude, etc

2. meteorol

   1. (of a cloud ceiling) limiting visibility to 15 metres (50 feet) or less

   2. (of horizontal visibility) limited to 50 metres (165 feet) or less

verb

1. (tr) to adjust (an instrument, apparatus, etc) so as to read zero or a position taken as zero

determiner

1. informal no (thing) at all

   this job has zero interest

zero Scientific  

/ zîr′ō /

1. The numerical symbol 0, representing a number that when added to another number leaves the original number unchanged.

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Closer Look

Although the origin of zero is controversial, some historians believe that it was invented by the Babylonians in about 500 BCE. In the sixth century, it was discovered by the Hindus and Chinese, and 700 years later, it reached the Western world via the Arabs. Zero is the only integer (whole number) that is neither positive nor negative. In a sense, zero makes negative numbers possible, as a negative number added to its positive counterpart always equals zero. When zero is added to or subtracted from a number, it leaves the number at its original value. Zero is essential as a position holder in the system known as positional notation. In the number 203, for example, there are two hundreds, zero tens, and three ones. Zero indicates that the value of the tens place is zero. In the number 1024, zero indicates that the value of the hundreds place is zero. Scientists use the term absolute zero (0° Kelvin) to refer to the (unattainable) theoretically lowest possible temperature, at which the kinetic energy of molecules is zero.

Other Word Forms

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• zeroes
  plural
• zeros
  plural

Participles

• zeroing
  present
• zeroed
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• zero
  simple
• zeroes
  simple
• have zeroed
  perfect
• has zeroed
  perfect
• am zeroing
  progressive
• are zeroing
  progressive
• is zeroing
  progressive
• have been zeroing
  perfect progressive
• has been zeroing
  perfect progressive

Past

• zeroed
  simple
• had zeroed
  perfect
• was zeroing
  progressive
• were zeroing
  progressive
• had been zeroing
  perfect progressive

Future

• will zero
  simple
• will have zeroed
  perfect
• will be zeroing
  progressive
• will have been zeroing
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of zero

1595–1605; < Italian < Medieval Latin zephirum < Arabic ṣifr cipher

Explanation

Zero means nothing. When you add zero to the number one, you get the number one. And if some gets a zero on a test, it means they've missed every question. You might know zero as 0, zilch, zip, nothing, or nada. While it is a number of no value, without it we wouldn't be able to count beyond 9. On a number line, all numbers below zero are negative. And the temperature at which water freezes is zero degrees Celsius. Occasionally you'll hear someone describe a person as a zero — which is a not-very-nice way to say that the person has nothing going for them.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

zero zeroes zeros zeroed zeroing

After today, it’s a lot more than zero.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 10, 2026

Miller’s goal, they said, is to have zero migrants entering the U.S.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 9, 2026

The experiment was carried out at Ben-Gurion University using clouds of rubidium atoms cooled to temperatures just above absolute zero.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 8, 2026

A prenup can make sure that if one of you sacrifices your earning potential for the family, you’re not left starting from zero if the marriage ends.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 8, 2026

“No. I really did try to get him to like you, but he doesn’t. I mean, you showed zero interest in him. How was he supposed to know?”

From "Keep It Together, Keiko Carter" by Debbi Michiko Florence

Users go to AI bots for everything from recipes to life and relationship advice, even forming one-sided platonic or romantic relationships with the ones and zeroes that make up this digital ether behind a screen.

From Salon ● Jun. 28, 2026

She zeroes in on the singer-songwriter’s frequent choice of yellow costuming and golden headwear, callouts to Yoruba culture and its spirits.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 23, 2026

The concept of “Barista FIRE,” for instance, zeroes in on saving enough money to live off investments for most expenses, then taking a part-time job to cover the remaining costs.

From Barron's ● Jan. 10, 2026

Conventional computers operate using bits -- streams of electrical or optical pulses that represent ones or zeroes.

From Science Daily ● Dec. 23, 2025

The eleven-year-old carefully penciled in the results for each game: zeroes for losses, ones for wins, and halves for draws.

From "Endgame" by Frank Brady

It took a half-century of extensive research to raise the percentage of zeros they could prove were on that line from 33.3% to 41.6%.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 15, 2026

Now Wall Street zeros in on rate hike in September.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 30, 2026

If you’re not, you’ve got to use money, which is hard to get, whereas you get shares by typing zeros into a spreadsheet.

From Salon ● Jun. 22, 2026

You could take several zeros off the $200 million Steyer spent on his campaign and it would still be more than most of us make in a lifetime.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 14, 2026

The other nine slots still contained Halliday’s initials, JDH, followed by zeros.

From "Ready Player One: A Novel" by Ernest Cline

Those loans passed through entities controlled by four businesses—ABS Capital, Amistad Financial, Bradford Allen and Hudson Trading—which federal prosecutors have zeroed in on, the Journal reported.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 23, 2026

From Washington, D.C., to Rhode Island to Oregon, federal judges nominated by presidents from both parties, including Donald Trump, have zeroed in on what’s called “the presumption of regularity.”

From Salon ● Jul. 30, 2026

Narayan highlighted Ford’s improved margins, but also zeroed in on Ford’s EV losses.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 29, 2026

Kylee Loera’s mostly black-and-white projections strategically added atmospheric images, including the eponymous streetcar; Eric Southern’s lighting zeroed in on Blanche—in different colors—whenever she slipped into reverie.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 15, 2026

My eyes fluttered open and zeroed in on the glowing green digits of my alarm clock.

From "Sir Fig Newton and the Science of Persistence" by Sonja Thomas

These strange laws of existence provide the framework for Ullom’s excellent social observations, zeroing in on each character’s relationship to this new world and comparing it to the old one.

From Salon ● Aug. 24, 2026

But public health officials finally appear to be zeroing in on what’s causing it.

From Slate ● Jul. 17, 2026

Spaeny: The great thing about this show is that it’s zeroing in on everyday impossibilities of life, the things that should be so simple, but drive us all up the wall.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 27, 2026

Investigators initially treated the death as an accident, but prosecutors reopened the investigation in October 2025, zeroing in on Jonathan Andic.

From Barron's ● May 26, 2026

And then she looks me over from head to toe before zeroing in on it.

From "Odd One Out" by Nic Stone

Related Words

• nil