CIPHER


Meaning of CIPHER in English

I. ˈsī-fər noun

Usage: often attributive

Etymology: Middle English, from Medieval Latin cifra, from Arabic ṣifr empty, cipher, zero

Date: 14th century

1.

a. : zero 1a

b. : one that has no weight, worth, or influence : nonentity

2.

a. : a method of transforming a text in order to conceal its meaning — compare code 3b

b. : a message in code

3. : Arabic numeral

4. : a combination of symbolic letters ; especially : the interwoven initials of a name

II. verb

( ci·phered ; ci·pher·ing -f(ə-)riŋ)

Date: circa 1530

intransitive verb

: to use figures in a mathematical process

transitive verb

1. : encipher

2. : to compute arithmetically

Merriam-Webster's Collegiate English vocabulary.      Энциклопедический словарь английского языка Merriam Webster.