cipher

English

/ˈsaɪfə/, /ˈsaɪfɚ/

noun
Definitions
  • A numeric character.
  • Any text character.
  • A combination or interweaving of letters, as the initials of a name; a device; a monogram.
  • A method of transforming a text in order to conceal its meaning.
  • (cryptography) A cryptographic system using an algorithm that converts letters or sequences of bits into ciphertext.
  • Ciphertext; a message concealed via a cipher.
  • A grouping of three digits in a number, especially when delimited by commas or periods:
  • (music) A fault in an organ valve which causes a pipe to sound continuously without the key having been pressed.
  • A hip-hop jam session.
  • The path (usually circular) shared cannabis takes through a group, an occasion of cannabis smoking.
  • Someone or something of no importance.
  • (dated) Zero.

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English cifre derived from Old French cyfre derived from Arabic صِفْر (nothing, zero, cipher, empty, void).

Origin

Arabic

صِفْر

Gloss

nothing, zero, cipher, empty, void

Concept
Semantic Field

Miscellaneous function words

Ontological Category

Number

Kanji

Emoji

Timeline

Distribution of cognates by language

Geogrpahic distribution of cognates

Cognates and derived terms