CYPHER

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does cypher mean? 

• CYPHER (noun)
  The noun CYPHER has 5 senses:

1. a mathematical element that when added to another number yields the same number

2. a quantity of no importance

3. a person of no influence

4. a secret method of writing

5. a message written in a secret code

  Familiarity information: CYPHER used as a noun is common.

• CYPHER (verb)
  The verb CYPHER has 2 senses:

1. convert ordinary language into code

2. make a mathematical calculation or computation

  Familiarity information: CYPHER used as a verb is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• CYPHER (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A mathematical element that when added to another number yields the same number

Classified under:

Nouns denoting quantities and units of measure

Synonyms:

0; cipher; cypher; nought; zero

Hypernyms ("cypher" is a kind of...):

digit; figure (one of the elements that collectively form a system of numeration)

Derivation:

cypher (make a mathematical calculation or computation)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A quantity of no importance

Classified under:

Nouns denoting quantities and units of measure

Synonyms:

aught; cipher; cypher; goose egg; nada; naught; nil; nix; nothing; null; zero; zilch; zip; zippo

Context example:

I didn't hear zilch about it

Hypernyms ("cypher" is a kind of...):

relative quantity (a quantity relative to some purpose)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "cypher"):

nihil ((Latin) nil; nothing (as used by a sheriff after an unsuccessful effort to serve a writ))

bugger all; Fanny Adams; fuck all; sweet Fanny Adams (little or nothing at all)

Sense 3

Meaning:

A person of no influence

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Synonyms:

cipher; cypher; nobody; nonentity

Hypernyms ("cypher" is a kind of...):

common man; common person; commoner (a person who holds no title)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "cypher"):

jackanapes; lightweight; whippersnapper (someone who is unimportant but cheeky and presumptuous)

pip-squeak; small fry; squirt (someone who is small and insignificant)

Sense 4

Meaning:

A secret method of writing

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Synonyms:

cipher; cryptograph; cypher; secret code

Hypernyms ("cypher" is a kind of...):

code (a coding system used for transmitting messages requiring brevity or secrecy)

Derivation:

cypher (convert ordinary language into code)

Sense 5

Meaning:

A message written in a secret code

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Synonyms:

cipher; cypher

Hypernyms ("cypher" is a kind of...):

message (a communication (usually brief) that is written or spoken or signaled)

Derivation:

cypher (convert ordinary language into code)

• CYPHER (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they cypher    ... he / she / it cyphers   
Past simple: cyphered   
Past participle: cyphered   
-ing form: cyphering   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Convert ordinary language into code

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Synonyms:

cipher; code; cypher; encipher; encrypt; inscribe; write in code

Context example:

We should encode the message for security reasons

Hypernyms (to "cypher" is one way to...):

encode (convert information into code)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

cypher (a message written in a secret code)

cypher (a secret method of writing)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Make a mathematical calculation or computation

Classified under:

Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting

Synonyms:

calculate; cipher; compute; cypher; figure; reckon; work out

Hypernyms (to "cypher" is one way to...):

reason (think logically)

Verb group:

work out (be calculated)

Domain category:

math; mathematics; maths (a science (or group of related sciences) dealing with the logic of quantity and shape and arrangement)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "cypher"):

resolve; solve (find the solution)

capitalise; capitalize (compute the present value of a business or an income)

budget (make a budget)

approximate; estimate; gauge; guess; judge (judge tentatively or form an estimate of (quantities or time))

survey (plot a map of (land))

integrate (calculate the integral of; calculate by integration)

differentiate (calculate a derivative; take the derivative)

extrapolate; interpolate (estimate the value of)

divide; fraction (perform a division)

multiply (combine by multiplication)

deduct; subtract; take off (make a subtraction)

add; add together (make an addition by combining numbers)

factor; factor in; factor out (resolve into factors)

average; average out (compute the average of)

recalculate (calculate anew)

miscalculate; misestimate (calculate incorrectly)

prorate (divide or assess proportionally)

process (perform mathematical and logical operations on (data) according to programmed instructions in order to obtain the required information)

extract (calculate the root of a number)

quantise; quantize (apply quantum theory to; restrict the number of possible values of (a quantity) or states of (a physical entity or system) so that certain variables can assume only certain discrete magnitudes that are integral multiples of a common factor)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s that CLAUSE

Derivation:

cypher (a mathematical element that when added to another number yields the same number)