zero meaning and definition

ZERO noun

Definition of zero (noun)

1. 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, cipher, cypher, goose egg, nada, naught, nil, nix, nothing, null, zilch, zip, zippo
2. a mathematical element that when added to another number yields the same number
   • synonyms: 0, cipher, cypher, nought
3. the point on a scale from which positive or negative numerical quantities can be measured
   • synonyms: zero point
4. the sight setting that will cause a projectile to hit the center of the target with no wind blowing

ZERO verb

Definition of zero (verb)

1. adjust (an instrument or device) to zero value
2. adjust (as by firing under test conditions) the zero of (a gun)
   • "He zeroed in his rifle at 200 yards"
   • synonyms: zero in

ZERO adjective

Definition of zero (adjective)

1. indicating the absence of any or all units under consideration
   • "a zero score"
   • synonyms: 0
2. having no measurable or otherwise determinable value
   • "the goal is zero population growth"
3. indicating an initial point or origin
4. of or relating to the null set (a set with no members)