cipher
[ sahy-fer ]
/ ˈsaɪ fər /
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noun
verb (used without object)
to use figures or numerals arithmetically.
to write in or as in cipher.
verb (used with object)
to calculate numerically; figure.
to convert into cipher.
QUIZZES
THINK YOU’VE GOT A HANDLE ON THIS US STATE NICKNAME QUIZ?
Did you ever collect all those state quarters? Put them to good use on this quiz about curious state monikers and the facts around them.
Question 1 of 8
Mississippi’s nickname comes from the magnificent trees that grow there. What is it?
Also especially British, cy·pher .
Origin of cipher
1350–1400; Middle English siphre<Medieval Latin ciphra<Arabic ṣifr empty, zero; translation of Sanskrit śūnyā empty
OTHER WORDS FROM cipher
ci·pher·a·ble, adjectiveci·pher·er, nounWords nearby cipher
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
Example sentences from the Web for cipher
British Dictionary definitions for cipher
cipher
cypher
/ (ˈsaɪfə) /
noun
verb
Word Origin for cipher
C14: from Old French cifre zero, from Medieval Latin cifra, from Arabic sifr zero, empty
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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