cipher meaning and definition

CIPHER noun

Definition of cipher (noun)

1. a message written in a secret code
   • synonyms: cypher
2. a mathematical element that when added to another number yields the same number
   • synonyms: 0, cypher, nought, zero
3. a quantity of no importance
   • "it looked like nothing I had ever seen before"; "reduced to nil all the work we had done"; "we racked up a pathetic goose egg"; "it was all for naught"; "I didn't hear zilch about it"
   • synonyms: aught, cypher, goose egg, nada, naught, nil, nix, nothing, null, zero, zilch, zip, zippo
4. a person of no influence
   • synonyms: cypher, nobody, nonentity
5. a secret method of writing
   • synonyms: cryptograph, cypher, secret code

CIPHER verb

Definition of cipher (verb)

1. convert ordinary language into code
   • "We should encode the message for security reasons"
   • synonyms: code, cypher, encipher, encrypt, inscribe, write in code
2. make a mathematical calculation or computation
   • synonyms: calculate, compute, cypher, figure, reckon, work out