English · Numbers & Time
zero
/ˈzɪərəʊ/
[/ˈzɪərəʊ/]
the number 0
Beginnernumeral
Definition
The number 0; nothing or none.
Example
The temperature dropped to zero degrees during the cold winter night.
The temperature dropped to zero degrees during the cold winter night.
Etymology
From Italian "zero," from Arabic "sifr," empty, the source of "cipher."
How & Where It’s Used
Used in counting, mathematics, and temperatures; "nought" and "nil" are variants.
Cultural Note
The concept of zero reached Europe from India via Arab mathematicians.