UK:**UK and possibly other pronunciationsUK and possibly other pronunciations/ˈzɪərəʊ/US:USA pronunciation: IPA and respellingUSA pronunciation: IPA/ˈzɪroʊ/ ,USA pronunciation: respelling(zēr′ō)
ze•ro(zēr′ō),USA pronunciationn., pl.-ros, -roes,v.,-roed, -ro•ing,adj. n.
the figure or symbol 0, which in the Arabic notation for numbers stands for the absence of quantity; cipher.
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.
a mathematical value intermediate between positive and negative values.
naught; nothing.
the lowest point or degree.
[Ling.]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 0̸:Inflectional endings were reduced to zero. The alternant of the plural morpheme in "sheep'' is zero.
[Ordn.]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.
[Math.]
the identity element of a group in which the operation is addition.
(of a function, esp. 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.
(cap.) a single-engine Japanese fighter plane used in World War II.
v.t.
to adjust (an instrument or apparatus) to a zero point or to an arbitrary reading from which all other readings are to be measured.
to reduce to zero.
[Slang.]to kill (a congressional bill, appropriation, etc.):The proposed tax increase has been zeroed for the time being.
zero in, to aim (a rifle, etc.) at the precise center or range of a target.
zero in on:
to aim directly at (a target).
to direct one's attention to; focus on; concentrate on.
to converge on; close in on.
adj.
amounting to zero:a zero score.
having no measurable quantity or magnitude; not any:zero economic growth.
[Ling.]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.
[Meteorol.]
(of an atmospheric ceiling) pertaining to or limiting vertical visibility to 50 ft. (15.2 m) or less.
of, pertaining to, or limiting horizontal visibility to 165 ft. (50.3 m) or less.
Banking[Finance.]zero-coupon.
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.
Collocations: [scored, got, received] zero points, got a zero score for [conduct, accuracy, the first round], [given, assigned] a zero [value, attribute, rating], more...
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