cipher

C2+ Topic:Technology & Computing

Also spelled cypher

US /ˈsaɪfər/ UK /ˈsaɪfə/ See IPA manual

Meanings

1

noun
a secret code; a zero; a nonentity; to encode or do arithmetic

The spy decoded the message using a substitution cipher.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · a secret code; a zero; a... code zero nought nonentity nobodyencode

Word family

Derived forms decipher

Related forms zero decipher

Etymology

From Old French cifre, from Medieval Latin cifra, from Arabic ṣifr ('empty, zero'), a calque of Sanskrit śūnya ('empty'); the sense 'secret code' developed from 'symbol for zero'.

cifre Old French ṣifr Arabic

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Technology & Computing Word Formation & Derivatives

External links

# cipher

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /ˈsaɪfər/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈsaɪfə/

## Meanings
1. a secret code; a zero; a nonentity; to encode or do arithmetic

## Examples
- The spy decoded the message using a substitution cipher.

## Synonyms
- code
- zero
- nought
- nonentity
- nobody
- encode

## Derived Forms
- decipher

## Related Forms
- zero
- decipher

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: cifre
- Root: ṣifr

## Etymology
From Old French cifre, from Medieval Latin cifra, from Arabic ṣifr ('empty, zero'), a calque of Sanskrit śūnya ('empty'); the sense 'secret code' developed from 'symbol for zero'.

## AI Etymology
Cipher is from Old French cifre, from Medieval Latin cifra, from Arabic ṣifr ('empty, zero'), a calque of Sanskrit śūnya ('empty'); the sense 'secret code' developed from 'symbol for zero'. In present-day use, it means a secret code; a zero; a nonentity; to encode or do arithmetic. Derived formations include decipher. Related vocabulary includes zero and decipher.

## Topics
- Technology & Computing
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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