| 释义 |
ze·ro
I. \ˈzē(ˌ)rō, ˈzi(-\ noun
(plural zeros also zeroes)
Etymology: French or Italian; French zéro, from Italian zero, from Medieval Latin zephirum, from Arabic ṣifr empty, cipher, zero
1.
a. : the arithmetical symbol 0 or Ø denoting the absence of all magnitude or quantity : cipher, naught
b. : a number or element that leaves unchanged any number or element to which it is added; specifically : the number between the set of all negative numbers and the set of all positive numbers — see number table
c. : a value of the independent variable of a function that makes it equal to zero
< +2 and -2 are zeros of f(x)=x2-4 >
2.
a.
(1) : the point of departure in reckoning; specifically : the point from which the graduation of a scale (as of a thermometer) commences
(2) : the temperature represented by the zero mark on a thermometer
b. : zero hour 1
c.
(1) : the basic setting of the rear sight of a firearm that compensates for inaccuracies of weapon and of firing habits and for elevation required at a given range and that causes the firearm to hit where aimed under normal conditions
(2) : the adjustment (as for elevation, windage) required for a gun or other device to achieve accuracy under specific operating conditions
3. : a person or thing that has no importance, influence, or independent existence : nonentity, nobody, nothing, cipher
4.
a.
(1) : a state or condition of total absence or of neutrality between opposites : nothing, naught
< a face that registered zero no matter what happened >
< the two eyewitnesses for the State added up to zero, for the defense made mincemeat of their testimony — Ross Colin >
< reduce the mortality rate to zero >
< hold the reversible reaction of the chemical to zero >
(2) : absence of an overt linguistic feature when this absence is itself significant because of the presence of such a feature at corresponding points in the language
< some vowel which earlier followed the final consonant but which was later reduced to zero — R.A.Hall b. 1911 >
b. : the lowest point
< his spirits fell to zero — Margaret Kennedy >
5. : something arbitrarily or conveniently designated zero: as
a. : the lowest in order or class
< a speech so bad it rated a zero >
b. : the space numbered 0 on a roulette wheel
II. adjective
1. : of, relating to, or being a zero: as
a. : forming a fixed point of departure in reckoning
< set the gauge back to the zero mark >
< time zones extending from the zero meridian >
< used the founding date as the zero year of its era >
b. : having no magnitude or quantity or being intermediate between positive and negative magnitudes or quantities : not any
< zero velocity >
< zero gravity >
< zero angle >
< zero lift >
< zero toe-in >
< zero inches >
< zero mass >
: nil
< chances of making up the lost time were zero >
c.
(1) : absent, lacking
< the zero modification in the past of cut in comparison with loved, sang >
(2) : having no modified inflectional form : unmodified
< the noun fish has a zero plural fish as well as a regular plural fishes >
d.
(1) : belonging to or being a group or class arbitrarily or conveniently designated zero
(2) : of, relating to, or being a logical class having no members : null, empty
< the zero denotation of the term unicorn >
< zero class >
2.
a. of an atmospheric ceiling : limiting vision to 50 feet or less
b. of horizontal visibility : limited to 165 feet or less
III. verb
(-ed/-ing/-es)
transitive verb
1. : to adjust (as by firing under test conditions) the zero of — often used with in
< zeroed in his rifle at 100 yards >
2. : to adjust (an instrument or device) to zero value or into synchronism
3.
a. : to concentrate firepower (as of mortar or artillery) on the exact range of — usually used with in
< it must operate from fixed bases which can be zeroed in by the enemy — Carl Spaatz >
b. : to bring to bear on the exact range of a target : train — usually used with in
< artillery and mortars were zeroed in on all crossroads and avenues of approach — S.J.Tobin >
4. : to reduce to zero
intransitive verb
1. : to adjust fire (as of mortars or artillery) on a specific target — usually used with in
< an enemy battery that zeroed in on the crossroad >
2. : to move near to or focus attention on a person or thing as if on a target : close — usually used with in
< bird-dogs zeroing in on coveys of hidden quail — J.N.Leonard >
< congressional opponents who zeroed in on the bill > |