cipher
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ci·pher
also cy·pher (sī′fər)n.
1. The mathematical symbol (0) denoting absence of quantity; zero.
2. An Arabic numeral or figure; a number.
3. One having no influence or value; a nonentity.
4.
a. A cryptographic system in which units of text of regular length, usually letters, are transposed or substituted according to a predetermined code.
b. The key to such a system.
c. A message written or transmitted in such a system.
5. A design combining or interweaving letters or initials; a monogram.
v. ci·phered, ci·pher·ing, ci·phers also cy·phered or cy·pher·ing or cy·phered
v.intr.
To solve problems in arithmetic; calculate.
v.tr.
1. To put in secret writing; encode.
2. To solve by means of arithmetic.
[Middle English cifre, from Old French, from Medieval Latin cifra, from Arabic ṣifr, from ṣafira, to be empty (translation of Sanskrit śūnyam, cipher, dot); see ṣpr in Semitic roots.]
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
cipher
(ˈsaɪfə) orcypher
n
1. a method of secret writing using substitution or transposition of letters according to a key
2. a secret message
3. the key to a secret message
4. (Mathematics) an obsolete name for zero1
5. (Mathematics) any of the Arabic numerals (0, 1, 2, 3, etc, to 9) or the Arabic system of numbering as a whole
6. a person or thing of no importance; nonentity
7. a design consisting of interwoven letters; monogram
8. (Instruments) music a defect in an organ resulting in the continuous sounding of a pipe, the key of which has not been depressed
vb
9. to put (a message) into secret writing
10. (Instruments) (intr) (of an organ pipe) to sound without having the appropriate key depressed
11. (Mathematics) rare to perform (a calculation) arithmetically
[C14: from Old French cifre zero, from Medieval Latin cifra, from Arabic sifr zero, empty]
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
ci•pher
(ˈsaɪ fər)n.
1. zero.
2. any of the Arabic numerals or figures.
3. a person or thing of no value or importance; nonentity.
4.
a. a secret method of writing, as by code.
b. writing done by such a method; a coded message.
5. the key to a secret method of writing.
6. a combination of letters, as the initials of a name; monogram.
v.i. 7. to use figures or numerals arithmetically.
8. to write in or as in cipher.
v.t. 9. to calculate numerically; figure.
10. to convert into cipher; encipher.
Also, esp. Brit., cypher. [1350–1400; Middle English siphre < Medieval Latin ciphra < Arabic ṣifr empty, zero; translation of Skt śūnyā empty]
ci′pher•a•ble, adj.
ci′pher•er, n.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
See also related terms for zero.
Farlex Trivia Dictionary. © 2012 Farlex, Inc. All rights reserved.
cipher
Any cryptographic system in which arbitrary symbols (or groups of symbols) represent units of plain text of regular length, usually single letters; units of plain text are rearranged; or both, in accordance with certain predetermined rules. See also cryptosystem.
Dictionary of Military and Associated Terms. US Department of Defense 2005.
cipher
Past participle: ciphered
Gerund: ciphering
| Imperative |
|---|
| cipher |
| cipher |
Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
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| Noun | 1. |  cipher - a message written in a secret code message - a communication (usually brief) that is written or spoken or signaled; "he sent a three-word message" |
| 2. |  cipher - a mathematical element that when added to another number yields the same number | |
| 3. |  cipher - a quantity of no importance; "it looked like nothing I had ever seen before"; "reduced to nil all the work we had done"; "we racked up a pathetic goose egg"; "it was all for naught"; "I didn't hear zilch about it"relative quantity - a quantity relative to some purpose nihil - (Latin) nil; nothing (as used by a sheriff after an unsuccessful effort to serve a writ); "nihil habet" Fanny Adams, sweet Fanny Adams - little or nothing at all; "I asked for a raise and they gave me bugger-all"; "I know sweet Fanny Adams about surgery" | |
| 4. | cipher - a person of no influence | |
| 5. |  cipher - a secret method of writing code - a coding system used for transmitting messages requiring brevity or secrecy | |
| Verb | 1. | cipher - convert ordinary language into code; "We should encode the message for security reasons" encode - convert information into code; "encode pictures digitally" |
| 2. | cipher - make a mathematical calculation or computation math, mathematics, maths - a science (or group of related sciences) dealing with the logic of quantity and shape and arrangement reason - think logically; "The children must learn to reason" quantise, quantize - apply quantum theory to; restrict the number of possible values of (a quantity) or states of (a physical entity or system) so that certain variables can assume only certain discrete magnitudes that are integral multiples of a common factor; "Quantize gravity" work out - be calculated; "The fees work out to less than $1,000" extract - calculate the root of a number process - perform mathematical and logical operations on (data) according to programmed instructions in order to obtain the required information; "The results of the elections were still being processed when he gave his acceptance speech" prorate - divide or assess proportionally; "The rent was prorated for the rest of the month" miscalculate, misestimate - calculate incorrectly; "I miscalculated the number of guests at the wedding" recalculate - calculate anew; "The costs had to be recalculated" average out, average - compute the average of add together, add - make an addition by combining numbers; "Add 27 and 49, please!" multiply - combine by multiplication; "multiply 10 by 15" interpolate, extrapolate - estimate the value of differentiate - calculate a derivative; take the derivative integrate - calculate the integral of; calculate by integration survey - plot a map of (land) estimate, gauge, approximate, guess, judge - judge tentatively or form an estimate of (quantities or time); "I estimate this chicken to weigh three pounds" budget - make a budget capitalise, capitalize - compute the present value of a business or an income |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
cipher
noun
1. code, coded message, cryptogram The codebreakers cracked the cipher.
2. nobody, nonentity, non-person They were little more than ciphers who faithfully carried out the Fuehrer's commands.
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
cipher
nounverb
The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
TranslationsSelect a language:
Spanish / Español
cipher
[ˈsaɪfəʳ]A. N
3. (= monogram) → monograma m
4. (fig) (= person) he's a mere cipher → es un cero a la izquierda
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
cipher
(ˈsaifə) noun secret writing; a code. The message was written in cipher.código
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.