zerothhttp://www.oed.com/dictionary/zeroth_adj%3Ftab%3Dmeaning_and_usezeroth, adj.
Revised 2018

zerothadjective

Science.
  1. 1850–
    Of an item in a series: coming before the item conventionally regarded as the first.
    Typically applied to items in a sequence which are regarded as preliminary or representing an initial stage, condition, etc., of something.
    1. 1850
      We have constructed the following table..by multiplying Aɸ''' by 3, 6 and 2 respectively for power of the second, first and zeroth order.
      J. Paterson, Calculus of Operations v. 93
    2. 1896
      In order to have the zeroth Bessel normal function, we need only let the conductance and permittance per unit length of cable both vary directly as the distance from x = 0.
      Electrician 10 January 350/2
    3. 1932
      The zeroth order wave functions which they use do indeed indicate that tetrahedral symmetry should give high stability.
      Physical Review vol. 40 56
    4. 1976
      In this zeroth part, our topic is the notion of number.
      J. H. Conway, On Numbers & Games 0. 3
    5. 2010
      So we start with the zeroth derivative, the location of the missile.
      S.–T. Yan & S. Nadis, Shape Inner Space v. 112

zeroth, adj. was revised in June 2018.

zeroth, adj. was last modified in July 2023.