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

And finally, they react to the Japanese prime minister’s recent claim of sleeping zero to three hours a night.

From Slate ● Jul. 25, 2026

Back in May, traders in the futures market were acting as if the chance of a quarter point hike was close to zero.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 24, 2026

“To date there’s been one out trans player in the league. They caused zero problems.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 24, 2026

Japan's prime minister Sanae Takaichi revealed in a post on X that she survives on zero to three hours of sleep per night, and people are reacting.

From BBC ● Jul. 23, 2026

I notice that Madge has a zero on hers.

From "Muffled" by Jennifer Gennari

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

Coco Gauff dropped a set for the second match in a row before clawing her way into a third consecutive Australian Open quarter-final on Sunday as she zeroes in on a maiden Melbourne title.

From Barron's ● Jan. 25, 2026

The proposal zeroes in on the fact that many billionaires’ wealth is largely tied up in noncash investments, such as stock, bonds, property or art.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 2, 2026

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

From Science Daily ● Dec. 23, 2025

“That’s a one with one hundred zeroes after it.”

From "Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close" by Jonathan Safran Foer

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

It is an investment with "a whole bunch of zeros behind the dollars", he says - and one pharmaceutical companies so far have not seen as being profitable.

From BBC ● May 22, 2026

Every operation -- such as applying a quantum gate -- influences more than 2 quadrillion complex numerical values, a "2" with 15 zeros.

From Science Daily ● May 11, 2026

But I don’t think zeros and ones are going to entirely ruin our lives.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 8, 2026

“You know,” Ma begins, “it’s this same carelessness that gets you zeros on your assignments. Even if you turn them in late, you can still get at least half credit.”

From "Kwame Crashes the Underworld" by Craig Kofi Farmer

Investors zeroed in on United’s potentially fatter jet-fuel bill — the airline said it expects nearly $6 billion in additional fuel expenses for the year, based on crude prices as of Tuesday.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 15, 2026

They zeroed in on videogames after regularly visiting lounges on business trips and finding them too staid.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 10, 2026

Investigators have zeroed in on the eight matches, including the final, that will be held at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 27, 2026

In an exclusive interview with BBC Sport, Di Maria says Van Gaal zeroed in on negatives in his game, never the positives, which led him to "hate" being at Old Trafford.

From BBC ● May 26, 2026

A progress meter appeared on my display, showing that my hard drive was now being zeroed out and wiped clean.

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

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

From Slate ● Jul. 17, 2026

Raman spent her time crisscrossing the city, going to dozens of events and zeroing in on renters and younger voters — groups she viewed as her base.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 9, 2026

Auditors reviewed $317,000 Boaz spent from 2022 to late 2024, zeroing in on about $18,000, much of it spent at restaurants and grocery stores.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 5, 2026

The park had opened in 2001 and had struggled in its early years to pull in crowds, with audiences zeroing in on a lack of Disneyland-style attractions and an absence of grandly designed vistas.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 12, 2026

Finn blinked at the boy in front of him, his eyes zeroing in on that famous Rude underbite.

From "Bone Gap" by Laura Ruby

Related Words

• nil