zero

ze|ro¹ [ˈzıərəu US ˈzi:rou] number plural zeros or zeroes

[Date: 1600-1700; : French; Origin: zéro, from Arabic sifr 'empty, nothing']

1.) the number 0

British Equivalent: nought

▪ Make X greater than or equal to zero.

2.) the point between + and - on a scale for measuring something, or the lowest point on a scale that shows how much there is left of something

▪ The petrol gauge was already at zero.

3.) a temperature of 0° on the Celsius or Fahrenheit scale

above/below zero

▪ It was five degrees below zero last night.

→↑absolute zero, ↑sub-zero

4.) none at all, or the lowest possible amount

sb's chances are zero

(=they have no chance of success)

▪ Mike's chances of winning are virtually zero.

▪ From 1971 to 1976 West Vancouver experienced zero population growth.

zero ²

zero² v

zero in on / [zero in on sb/sth] phr v

1.) to direct all your attention towards a particular person or thing

= ↑home in on

▪ She immediately zeroed in on the weak point in his argument.

2.) to aim a gun or other weapon towards something or someone