Zero

Part of speech: noun, adjective

Pronunciation: /ˈzɪəɹəʊ/

Definitions

1. A numerical value representing nothing or the absence of quantity
2. A numerical figure that signifies a total absence of any amount or value
3. A mathematical concept indicating the void of quantity or null value within a set

Etymology: In Arabic, "sifr" meant "empty," and it became the name for the symbol marking an empty place in written numbers. It passed into Medieval Latin as "zephirum," then into Italian as "zero," and from Italian the form reached English, alongside Spanish "cero" and French "zéro." The same Arabic root also gave English "cipher." Medieval Latin turned "sifr" into "cifra," which came into English as "cipher," and the word first meant the numeral zero. It later meant any numeral, and then a secret code, since writing in code means replacing letters with symbols.

Synonyms: nil, nothing, naught, null, none

Antonyms: one, single, some, any, total