I. ˈzē-(ˌ)rō, ˈzir-(ˌ)ō noun
( plural zeros also zeroes )
Etymology: French or Italian; French zéro, from Italian zero, from Medieval Latin zephirum, from Arabic ṣifr
Date: 1598
1.
a. : the arithmetical symbol 0 or Ø 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 zero s of f(x)=x 2 -4
2. — see number table
3.
a.
(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
5.
a. : a state of total absence or neutrality
b. : the lowest point : nadir
6. : something arbitrarily or conveniently designated zero
II. adjective
Date: 1810
1.
a. : 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
2.
a. 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
III. verb
Date: 1913
transitive verb
1. : to determine or adjust the zero of (as a rifle)
2.
a. : 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
intransitive verb
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 zero ing in on a suspect