zero

English numbers ^(edit)

		00
		0	1  →	10  →
Cardinal: zero     Ordinal: zeroth

Pronunciation

• (AU) (US) enPR: zē'rō, IPA ^(key): /ˈzir.oʊ/, SAMPA: /"zir\.oU/
• (UK) IPA ^(key): /ˈzɪə.rəʊ/, SAMPA: /"[email protected]\@U/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Hyphenation: ze‧ro

Determiner

Determiner zero

1. (number) (indefinite) (count) Zero is a count of nothing. It is often written 0.
   • Synonym: nought

   It's zero degrees.

2. (number) (indefinite) (non-count) Zero
   • Synonym: no

   I have zero coffee left.

Noun

Singular zero

Plural zeros or zeroes

1. The symbol for the number zero, that is "0."

   The new job added a zero to my pay, from $20,000 to $200,000.

2. (slang) A person or thing that is worth nothing.

   I'm not inviting him, he's total zero.

Verb

Plain form zero

Third-person singular zeroes

Past tense zeroed

Past participle zeroed

Present participle zeroing

1. To zero is to make a small change to reset a piece of equipment.

   I had to zero the counter on my tape player.

2. To zero in is to make small changes that bring you closer to something.

   I was able to zero in on the source of bad smell in the shed.