zero
noun
ze·ro
| \ ˈzē-(ˌ)rō
, ˈzir-(ˌ)ō\
, ˈzir-(ˌ)ō\
plural zeros
also zeroes
Definition of zero
(Entry 1 of 3)
1a
: the arithmetical symbol 0 or 0̸ denoting the absence of all magnitude or quantity
b
: additive identity
specifically
: the number between the set of all negative numbers and the set of all positive numbers
c
: a value of an independent variable that makes a function equal to zero
+2 and −2 are zeros of f(x)=x2−4
2
: the absence of a measurable quantity — see Table of Numbers
3a(1)
: the point of departure in reckoning
specifically
: the point from which the graduation of a scale (as of a thermometer) begins
(2)
: the temperature represented by the zero mark on a thermometer
b
: the setting or adjustment of the sights of a firearm that causes it to shoot to point of aim at a desired range
4
: an insignificant person or thing : nonentity
5a
: a state of total absence or neutrality
b
: the lowest point : nadir
6
: something arbitrarily or conveniently designated zero
zero
adjectiveDefinition of zero (Entry 2 of 3)
1a
: of, relating to, or being a zero
b
: having no magnitude or quantity : not any
zero growth zero tolerance
c(1)
: having no phonetic manifestation
the zero modification in the past tense of cut
(2)
: having no modified inflectional form
a zero plural
2a
of a cloud ceiling
: limiting vision to 50 feet (15 meters) or less
b
of horizontal visibility
: limited to 165 feet (50.3 meters) or less
zero
verb
zeroed;
zeroing;
zeroes
Definition of zero (Entry 3 of 3)
1
: to determine or adjust the zero of
zero a rifle
2a
: to concentrate firepower on the exact range of
—usually used with in
b
: to bring to bear on the exact range of a target
—usually used with in
1
: to adjust fire on a specific target
—usually used with in
2
: to close in on or focus attention on an objective
—usually used with in investigators are zeroing in on a suspect
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Synonyms for zero
Synonyms: Noun
aught, cipher, goose egg, naught (also nought), nil, nothing, o, oh, zilch, zip
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Examples of zero in a Sentence
Noun
Two minus two equals zero. It's supposed to fall below zero tonight. The temperature is 10° above zero. They are working to reduce the mortality rate to zero.
Recent Examples on the Web: Noun
Timing is everything, especially as studios work to compete with mega-hitmaker Disney, whose Lion King remake blew past $1 billion and continues to rack up more ones and zeroes at the global box office. — Isaac Feldberg, Fortune, "Box Office: ‘Scary Stories’ Spooks ‘Dora’ As ‘The Kitchen,’ ‘Art of Racing’ Crash," 12 Aug. 2019 Libra—like all money encoded in ones and zeros—has to be stored in what’s called a digital wallet in order to move around the Internet. — Sue Halpern, The New Yorker, "Facebook’s Audacious Pitch for a Global Cryptocurrency," 30 July 2019 In a long-standing stalemate dominated by zeroes on the scoreboard and plenty of strikeouts, the Tigers lost, 3-2. — Anthony Fenech, Detroit Free Press, "Detroit Tigers' Matthew Boyd solid in loss vs. Phillies, 3-2 (15 inn.)," 24 July 2019 There were plenty of zeros put up while Porcello stood on the mound — something that he, the rotation and the Red Sox badly needed. — Nick Kelly, BostonGlobe.com, "Rick Porcello’s roll through Royals was sorely needed," 5 Aug. 2019 But after two games of zeros from the Orioles' bullpen, Richard Bleier and Miguel Castro each yielded runs to consign the Orioles (32-69) to a series loss against former star outfielder Adam Jones' new team. — Jon Meoli, baltimoresun.com, "Orioles’ Chris Davis and Jonathan Villar leave them stranded in 5-2 loss to Diamondbacks," 24 July 2019 The required number of zeros is automatically adjusted so that the network produces a new block once every 10 minutes, on average. — Timothy B. Lee, Ars Technica, "How to mine bitcoins using a computer from NASA’s Apollo program," 9 July 2019 Given the nature of the allegations, there was potential for a substantial recovery with lots of zeroes if Taul were to win. — CBS News, "Whistleblower threatened with being cremated alive after exposing mortuary kickback scheme," 14 June 2019 For top-level acts like Dutch DJ/producer Oliver Heldens, or multi-platinum, L.A.-based crossover trio Cheat Codes, festivals offer green room reunions with famous friends, and paychecks with lots of zeroes on the end. — Allison Stewart, chicagotribune.com, "Spring Awakening is here, and so are all the cool kids, from superstars to fast-rising locals," 4 June 2019Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective
There is a decidedly non-zero possibility that the federal government will shut down on Friday night. — Sy Mukherjee, Fortune, "Brainstorm Health: Human CRISPR Trials, Hospital Run Drug Company, CHIP Extension," 18 Jan. 2018 Davis has played in just 13 NFL games, made zero appearances last year, and posted a passer rating of 66.2 in his three performances with the Browns in 2015. — Matt Calkins, The Seattle Times, "Criticize Colin Kaepernick? Fine. But don’t withhold a job from him," 5 June 2017 There’s absolutely zero evidence that dogs or cats can contract or transmit the virus. — Patty Khuly, miamiherald, "Should I worry that my dog or cat will get Zika?," 10 May 2017Recent Examples on the Web: Verb
Birmingham’s Brasfield & Gorrie is zeroing in toward completion next fall of a Nashville luxury hotel project. — William Thornton | Wthornton@al.com, al, "Brasfield & Gorrie on track with Nashville luxury hotel project," 29 Aug. 2019 Activists are zeroing in on the bottle as next in line for banning, after plastic shopping bags. — Laura Parker, National Geographic, "How the plastic bottle went from miracle container to hated garbage," 23 Aug. 2019 Similar questions are surfacing in the presidential race, where Julian Castro has zeroed in on the lack of racial and ethnic diversity in newsrooms. — Ruben Navarrette Jr., The Mercury News, "Navarrette: America’s dialogue on race is now a vexing monologue," 27 July 2019 The widespread expectation at the draft combine in May was that the Grizzlies had zeroed in on Morant with this selection. — Jeremy Woo, SI.com, "2019 NBA Mock Draft 9.0: Projecting All 60 Picks As Trade Talk Heats Up," 11 June 2019 Here's how Trump has zeroed in on Biden as a target. — NBC News, "Trump, Biden battle for the spotlight in Iowa," 11 June 2019 Ryan was zeroing in on a worsening crisis felt worldwide. — Robert Weisman, BostonGlobe.com, "‘Disconnected from other folks,’ seniors grapple with a loneliness epidemic," 3 Aug. 2019 But if Winehouse was zeroed in on the sounds of 1963 or so, Bailey Rae brought to mind 1974. — John Adamian, courant.com, "Corinne Bailey Rae, melding jazz, poetry and soul, to play Ridgefield," 26 July 2019 Watching film of practice is a frustrating endeavor because a coach naturally zeroes in on the flaws, and with so many young, inexperienced receivers on the team right now, there are plenty. — Andy Benoit, SI.com, "24 Hours ... With Bengals Coach Zac Taylor," 25 July 2019These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'zero.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.