ZERO (zeroes)

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

Irregular inflected form: zeroes   

 Dictionary entry overview: What does zero mean? 

• ZERO (noun)
  The noun ZERO has 4 senses:

1. a quantity of no importance

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

3. the point on a scale from which positive or negative numerical quantities can be measured

4. the sight setting that will cause a projectile to hit the center of the target with no wind blowing

  Familiarity information: ZERO used as a noun is uncommon.

• ZERO (adjective)
  The adjective ZERO has 4 senses:

1. indicating the absence of any or all units under consideration

2. having no measurable or otherwise determinable value

3. indicating an initial point or origin

4. of or relating to the null set (a set with no members)

  Familiarity information: ZERO used as an adjective is uncommon.

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

1. adjust (an instrument or device) to zero value

2. adjust (as by firing under test conditions) the zero of (a gun)

  Familiarity information: ZERO used as a verb is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• ZERO (noun)

Sense 1

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 ("zero" is a kind of...):

relative quantity (a quantity relative to some purpose)

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

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)

Derivation:

zero (adjust (an instrument or device) to zero value)

Sense 2

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 ("zero" is a kind of...):

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

Derivation:

zero (adjust (an instrument or device) to zero value)

Sense 3

Meaning:

The point on a scale from which positive or negative numerical quantities can be measured

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Synonyms:

zero; zero point

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

numerical quantity (a quantity expressed as a number)

Derivation:

zero (adjust (an instrument or device) to zero value)

Sense 4

Meaning:

The sight setting that will cause a projectile to hit the center of the target with no wind blowing

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

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

sight setting (the adjustment of a gunsight for elevation and windage on a particular range under favorable light conditions)

• ZERO (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Indicating the absence of any or all units under consideration

Synonyms:

0; zero

Context example:

a zero score

Similar:

cardinal (being or denoting a numerical quantity but not order)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Having no measurable or otherwise determinable value

Context example:

the goal is zero population growth

Similar:

no ((quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns for indicating a complete or almost complete lack or zero quantity of)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Indicating an initial point or origin

Similar:

ordinal (being or denoting a numerical order in a series)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Of or relating to the null set (a set with no members)

Classified under:

Relational adjectives (pertainyms)

Pertainym:

null set (a set that is empty; a set with no members)

• ZERO (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they zero    ... he / she / it zeroes    / zeros   
Past simple: zeroed   
Past participle: zeroed   
-ing form: zeroing   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Adjust (an instrument or device) to zero value

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

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

adjust; correct; set (alter or regulate so as to achieve accuracy or conform to a standard)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

zero (the point on a scale from which positive or negative numerical quantities can be measured)

zero (a quantity of no importance)

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

Sense 2

Meaning:

Adjust (as by firing under test conditions) the zero of (a gun)

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Synonyms:

zero; zero in

Context example:

He zeroed in his rifle at 200 yards

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

adjust; correct; set (alter or regulate so as to achieve accuracy or conform to a standard)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

 Context examples 

The percentage of the recovered administered dose extrapolated to infinity, calculated using the observed value of the last non-zero concentration, divided by the surface area.

(Percent Recovered Infinity Observed Normalized by Surface Area, NCI Thesaurus)

The same is true if you have zero or one degree of Libra rising.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

The area under the moment curve (AUMC) extrapolated to infinity, calculated using the predicted value of the last non-zero concentration, divided by the body mass index.

(AUMC Infinity Predicted Normalized by Body Mass Index, NCI Thesaurus/CDISC)

The percentage of the recovered administered dose extrapolated to infinity, calculated using the observed value of the last non-zero concentration, divided by the body mass index.

(Percent Recovered Infinity Observed Normalized by Body Mass Index, NCI Thesaurus)

With zero CCl4 emissions reported between 2007-2012, atmospheric concentrations of the compound should have declined at an expected rate of 4 percent per year.

(Ozone-depleting compound persists, NASA)

Over most of the continent and for most of the year, air temperatures are well below zero and the ice surface remains frozen.

(Surface lakes cause Antarctic ice shelves to ‘flex’, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)

This allele, which encodes protein zero related protein, may play a role in cell signal transduction.

(MPZL1 wt Allele, NCI Thesaurus)

The area under the curve (AUC) extrapolated to infinity, calculated using the predicted value of the last non-zero concentration, divided by the body mass index.

(AUC Infinity Predicted Normalized by Body Mass Index, NCI Thesaurus/CDISC)

The percentage of the recovered administered dose extrapolated to infinity, calculated using the observed value of the last non-zero concentration, divided by the weight.

(Percent Recovered Infinity Observed Normalized by Weight, NCI Thesaurus)

A quantity having a value less than zero.

(Negative Number, NCI Thesaurus)