to zero
- verb
- /ˈziːroʊ/
- Specialized
- Thinking in terms of pure visual design—lines, curves, negative space—will help you to zero in on a graphic composition.
So I have to turn it to zero first and ramp it up slowly and very slowly too.
- So I have to turn it to zero first and ramp it up slowly and very slowly too.
- So you'd adjust the height gauge so it came down and OK, so I'm going to adjust this to zero.
Examples
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I am a big fan of ConsumerReports.org, and if you take a look at their reliability reports for used cars, you can quickly zero in on what the most reliable models are.
Blog text (1) -
Okay, so the second we get it, we zero out everything.
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So let's zero that and we'll do the green one first.
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I'm zeroing in on your location.
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You're absolutely right to zero in on Ware's insistence that the novel is about memory.
Blog text (24) -
Before taking the measurements, make sure to zero the scale to ensure accuracy.
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The technician will zero the instrument before starting the calibration process.
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It's important to zero the device to get a correct reading during the experiment.
Synonyms
To make something have no effect or value
To put a device like a scale or gauge back to zero
Idioms
- Informal
To become successful and respected after being unknown or unsuccessful
Phrasal Verbs
Compounds
The place in New York City where the World Trade Center was before the 2001 terrorist attacks
- Formal
A policy that makes people follow rules with no exceptions, even for small mistakes
- Formal
A strict rule that gives the same punishment for every bad act with no exceptions
- Specialized
The lowest possible temperature when tiny particles almost stop moving
- Specialized
First known person infected in an outbreak who may spread the disease to others
- Specialized
The size of all whole numbers like 0, 1, 2 and so on, the smallest infinity
- Specialized
A software flaw attackers use before developers know or fix it
- Neologism
A possible global conflict using new kinds of attacks like hacking and harm from climate change
- Specialized
A bond sold at a large discount that pays no regular interest and repays full value at maturity
- Specialized
An investment sold for less than its full value that pays no interest until it ends
- Specialized
A hole in software that attackers use before developers release a fix
- Specialized
A loan you buy for less than its value that pays no interest until it ends
- Specialized
A bond sold for less than its value that pays no interest and gives the full amount when it ends
Surface Forms
Etymology
Zero comes from the Arabic word sifr, which means 'empty' or 'nothing', and entered English from Italian zero. To zero an instrument is to set it to read 'nothing' before you start measuring, which makes the origin easy to remember.