Meaning & use
zero
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Meanings
number
The number 0, which means no amount or quantity, and marks the point between positive and negative numbers.
Grammar: Used as a number before nouns: zero degrees, zero chance.
Patterns
- zero + noun
- zero degrees
- zero chance
The temperature dropped to zero degrees Celsius last night.
There is zero chance of rain today, so you don't need an umbrella.
In math, zero is neither positive nor negative.
verbtransitive
To set an instrument, counter, or account back to zero, or to adjust it so that it starts from zero.
Grammar: Takes an object: zero the scale before weighing.
Patterns
- zero something
- zero the scale
- zero the counter
Please zero the scale before you weigh the flour.
The technician zeroed the machine after each test.
He zeroed his bank account by transferring all the money out.
adjectivebefore a noun
Having no amount or level of something; none at all.
Grammar: Used before a noun: zero tolerance, zero growth.
Patterns
- zero + noun
- zero tolerance
- zero growth
The school has a zero tolerance policy for bullying.
The company reported zero profit for the first quarter.
She showed zero interest in the new project.
Word forms
| third person singular | zeroes |
|---|---|
| past tense | zeroed |
| past participle | zeroed |
| -ing form | zeroing |
| plural | zeros |
Common combinations
- zero in on
- The discussion zeroed in on the main problem.
- below zero
- It was ten degrees below zero outside.
- zero tolerance
- The policy is one of zero tolerance for cheating.
- zero chance
- There is zero chance of us finishing on time.
- ground zero
- The bomb destroyed everything at ground zero.
Synonyms and how they differ
Word family
- zeroes noun
- Plural of zero, meaning multiple zeros.
- zeroed verb
- Past tense of zero, meaning set to zero.
Commonly confused: zero or O?
zero vs O
The letter O is often confused with zero when reading numbers or codes; zero is the number, O is a letter.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'zero' correctly as a verb?
Choose one answer.
As a verb, 'zero' means to set something to zero, as in 'zeroed the scale'. The other options use 'zero' as a number or adjective.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “zero”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.