zero, v.

zero
http://www.oed.com/dictionary/zero_v%3Ftab%3Dmeaning_and_use
Revised 2018

# zeroverb

## Earlier version

- zero, v. in OED Second Edition (1989)

## Factsheet

### What does the verb zero mean?

There are five meanings listed in OED's entry for the verb zero, two of which are labelled obsolete. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence.

zero has developed meanings and uses in subjects including

gunnery and firearms (1910s) military (1920s) measurement (1920s)

### How common is the verb zero?

About 2occurrences per million words in modern written English

1810 | 0.023
1820 | 0.033
1830 | 0.051
1840 | 0.066
1850 | 0.075
1860 | 0.094
1870 | 0.11
1880 | 0.18
1890 | 0.19
1900 | 0.23
1910 | 0.27
1920 | 0.4
1930 | 0.65
1940 | 1.3
1950 | 2.0
1960 | 2.3
1970 | 2.3
1980 | 2.2
1990 | 2.3
2000 | 2.2
2010 | 2.1

### How is the verb zero pronounced?

#### British English

/ˈzɪərəʊ/
ZEER-oh

#### U.S. English

/ˈzɪroʊ/
ZEER-oh
/ˈziroʊ/
ZEER-oh

### Where does the verb zero come from?

Earliest known use

1810s

The earliest known use of the verb zero is in the 1810s.

OED's earliest evidence for zero is from 1813, in the writing of Robert Thomas Wilson, army officer and colonial governor.

It is also recorded as a noun from the early 1600s.

zero is formed within English, by conversion.

Etymons: zero n.

### Nearby entries

1. Zeppelining, n. 1915–
2. Zeppelinist, n. 1912–
3. Zeppelinistic, adj. 1930–
4. Zeppelinite, n. 1909–
5. zeppole, n. 1835–
6. zepto-, comb. form
7. zeranol, n. 1971–
8. zerda, n. 1780–1860
9. zerk, n. 1926–
10. zero, n. & adj. 1604–
11. zero, v.1813–
12. zeroable, adj. 1956–
13. zero balance, adj. 1974–
14. zero-base, adj. 1962–
15. zero-based, adj. 1963–
16. zero beat, n. 1920–
17. zero-carbon, adj. 1990–
18. zero-coupon, adj. 1979–
19. zero creep, n. 1904–
20. zero crossing, n. 1941–
21. zero day, n. 1917–

## Etymology

### Summary

Formed within English, by conversion.
Etymon: zero n.
< zero n.

In sense 3 after zero hour n.

With sense 4 compare earlier zeroize v.

## Meaning & use

1. 1.
   1813
   † transitive. Apparently: to make (a person) ineffective or powerless. Obsolete. rare.
   1. 1813

      > Lord Cathcart..permits me to go on a visit to my friends in command, but he ‘wishes to have no report of what I hear or see, as it would be indelicate to have any papers contradicting the official document.’ This is indeed zeroing me.

      R. Wilson, Private Diary March (1861) vol. I. 309
2. 2.
   1911–
   transitive. To set the sights of (a rifle) by testing it with targets at known distances. Also with on. Cf. zero n. A.6, to zero in 1 at Phrasal verbs.
   1. 1911

      > Team practise began on June 22 at Fort Sheridan, it being considered best to ‘zero’ all guns there on account of the protected nature of the range.

      Infantry Journal (U.S.) January 630
   2. 1958

      > I had not yet fired at a live target, though..I had zeroed it on a marked one.

      L. van der Post, Lost World of Kalahari vii. 142
   3. 1979

      > The rifle had been zeroed..at an elevation of 200.

      D. Lowden, Boudapesti 3 xxxii. 176
   4. 2015

      > To zero a rifle, you line up on the target and shoot five times.

      J. Mitic, Unflinching i. ii. 23
   gunnery and firearms
   1. zero 1911–
      transitive. To set the sights of (a rifle) by testing it with targets at known distances. Also with on. Cf. zero, n. A.6, to zero in 1 at phrasal…
   2. sight 1958–
      With in. To correct the sights of (a firearm, etc.) by testing and adjustment. North American.
   View in Historical Thesaurus
3. 3.
   1926
   † transitive. To schedule a time for the beginning of (a military operation). Cf. zero hour n. 1. Obsolete. rare.
   1. 1926

      > Plan No. 7 will be put in operation to-night. It will be zeroed as from 23 00 hours.

      Blackwood's Magazine December 774/1
   military
   1. zero 1926
      transitive. To schedule a time for the beginning of (a military operation). Cf. zero hour, n. 1. Obsolete. rare.
   View in Historical Thesaurus
4. 4.
   1928–
   transitive. To adjust (an instrument or device) to give a zero reading, esp. for the purposes of calibration.
   1. 1928

      > The man in the field will be quick to appreciate how simple a job it is to clean the Foxboro Orifice Meters. After cleaning and assembling the meter is zeroed by a simple micrometer adjustment.

      National Petroleum News 13 June 51 (advertisement)
   2. 1938

      > The manometer..to be set up, levelled, zeroed and read rapidly and easily under the unfavourable conditions of an open dune during a sandstorm.

      Proceedings of Royal Society A. vol. 167 283
   3. 1969

      > He checked the odometer which he had zeroed at the Porte de Versailles. Three more kilometres, then a right turn.

      B. Weil, Dossier IX v. 34
   4. 1982

      > One button..can zero the read-out at any point, allowing you to add ingredients without emptying the bowl.

      Homes & Gardens January 17/3
   5. 2010

      > The transducing system should be zeroed to atmospheric pressure.

      J. J. Nagelhout et al., Handbook Nurse Anesthesia (ed. 4) xvii. 331/2
   measurement
   1. calibrate 1863–
      transitive. To determine the correct position, value, capacity, etc., of; to set an instrument so that readings taken from it are absolute rather…
   2. zeroize 1894–
      transitive. To adjust (an instrument or device) to give a zero reading, esp. for the purposes of calibration; to assign a value of zero to. Cf. zero…
   3. zero 1928–
      transitive. To adjust (an instrument or device) to give a zero reading, esp. for the purposes of calibration.
   View in Historical Thesaurus
5. 5.
   1965–
   transitive. To reduce to zero; to eliminate, remove; to omit, leave out. Cf. to zero out at Phrasal verbs.
   1. 1965

      > We can zero a repetitive subject under W: (1) We prefer our studying French. → We prefer studying French.

      Language vol. 41 397
   2. 1973

      > Etymologies of words subsequently zeroed from the vocabulary of Webster's Third have been replaced.

      Word 1966 vol. 22 7
   3. 1990

      > A graphic appeared on the screen. ‘Zero Screen 311!’ he bellowed.

      Tennis July 86/2

## Pronunciation

### British English

/ˈzɪərəʊ/
ZEER-oh

### U.S. English

/ˈzɪroʊ/
ZEER-oh
/ˈziroʊ/
ZEER-oh

####

##### Consonants

- ppea
- ttea
- kkey
- bbuy
- ddye
- ɡguy
- tʃchore
- dʒjay
- ffore
- θthaw
- ssore
- ʃshore
- vvee
- ðthee
- zzee
- ʒbeige
- xloch
- hhay
- llay
- ɬrhingyll
- rray
- wway
- jyore
- mmay
- nnay
- ŋsing

Some consonants can take the function of the vowel in unstressed syllables. Where necessary, a syllabic marker diacritic is used, hence /ˈpɛtl/ but /ˈpɛtl̩i/.

##### Vowels

- iːfleece
- ihappy
- ɪkit
- ɛdress
- atrap, bath
- ɑːstart, palm, bath
- ɒlot
- ɔːthought, force
- ʌstrut
- ʊfoot
- uːgoose
- əletter
- əːnurse
- ɪənear
- ɛːsquare
- ʊəcure
- eɪface
- ʌɪpride
- aʊmouth
- əʊgoat
- ɔɪvoice
- ãgratin
- ɒ̃salon
- ᵻ(/ɪ/-/ə/)
- ᵿ(/ʊ/-/ə/)

##### Other symbols

- The symbol ˈ at the beginning of a syllable indicates that that syllable is pronounced with primary stress.
- The symbol ˌ at the beginning of a syllable indicates that that syllable is pronounced with secondary stress.
- Round brackets ( ) in a transcription indicate that the symbol within the brackets is optional.

View the pronunciation model here.

####

##### Consonants

- ppea
- ttea
- kkey
- bbuy
- ddye*
- ɡguy
- tʃchore
- dʒjay
- ffore
- θthaw
- ssore
- ʃshore
- vvee
- ðthee
- zzee
- ʒbeige
- xloch
- hhay
- llay
- rray
- wway
- jyore
- mmay
- nnay
- ŋsing

* /d/ also represents a 'tapped' /t/ as in

Some consonants can take the function of the vowel in unstressed syllables. Where necessary, a syllabic marker diacritic is used, hence /ˈpɛd(ə)l/ but /ˈpɛdl̩i/.

##### Vowels

- ifleece, happy
- ɪkit
- ɛdress
- ætrap, bath
- ɑlot, palm, cloth, thought
- ɑrstart
- ɔcloth, thought
- ɔrnorth, force
- ʊfoot
- ugoose
- əstrut, comma
- ərnurse, letter
- ɪ(ə)rnear
- ɛ(ə)rsquare
- ʊ(ə)rcure
- eɪface
- aɪpride
- aʊmouth
- oʊgoat
- ɔɪvoice
- ɑ̃gratin
- æ̃salon
- ᵻ(/ɪ/-/ə/)
- ᵿ(/ʊ/-/ə/)

##### Other symbols

- The symbol ˈ at the beginning of a syllable indicates that that syllable is pronounced with primary stress.
- The symbol ˌ at the beginning of a syllable indicates that that syllable is pronounced with secondary stress.
- Round brackets ( ) in a transcription indicate that the symbol within the brackets is optional.

View the pronunciation model here.

####

Simple text respell breaks words into syllables, separated by a hyphen. The syllable which carries the primary stress is written in capital letters. This key covers both British and U.S. English Simple Text Respell.

##### Consonants

b, d, f, h, k, l, m, n, p, r, s, t, v, w and z have their standard English values

- gguy
- jjay
- yyore
- chchore
- khloch
- shshore
- ththaw
- dhthee
- zhbeige

##### Vowels

- atrap
- ahpalm
- airsquare
- arstart
- arrcarry (British only)
- awthought
- ayface
- a(ng)gratin
- edress
- eefleece
- eerdeer
- errmerry
- ikit
- ighpride
- irrmirror
- olot (British only)
- ohgoat
- oogoose
- oorcure
- orforce
- orrsorry (British only)
- owmouth
- oyvoice
- o(ng)salon
- ustrut
- uhletter
- urnurse
- urrhurry
- uufoot

## Frequency

zero typically occurs about twice per million words in modern written English.

zero is in frequency band 5, which contains words occurring between 1 and 10 times per million words in modern written English. More about OED's frequency bands

Frequency data is computed programmatically, and should be regarded as an estimate.

### Frequency of zero, v., 1810–2010

* Occurrences per million words in written English

Historical frequency series are derived from Google Books Ngrams (version 2), a data set based on the Google Books corpus of several million books printed in English between 1500 and 2010.

The overall frequency for a given word is calculated by summing frequencies for the main form of the word, any plural or inflected forms, and any major spelling variations.

For sets of homographs (distinct entries that share the same word-form, e.g. mole, n.¹, mole, n.², mole, n.³, etc.), we have estimated the frequency of each homograph entry as a fraction of the total Ngrams frequency for the word-form. This may result in inaccuracies.

Smoothing has been applied to series for lower-frequency words, using a moving-average algorithm. This reduces short-term fluctuations, which may be produced by variability in the content of the Google Books corpus.

Decade | Frequency per million words
--- | ---
1810 | 0.023
1820 | 0.033
1830 | 0.051
1840 | 0.066
1850 | 0.075
1860 | 0.094
1870 | 0.11
1880 | 0.18
1890 | 0.19
1900 | 0.23
1910 | 0.27
1920 | 0.4
1930 | 0.65
1940 | 1.3
1950 | 2.0
1960 | 2.3
1970 | 2.3
1980 | 2.2
1990 | 2.3
2000 | 2.2
2010 | 2.1

### Frequency of zero, v., 2017–2024

* Occurrences per million words in written English

Modern frequency series are derived from a corpus of 20 billion words, covering the period from 2017 to the present. The corpus is mainly compiled from online news sources, and covers all major varieties of World English.

Smoothing has been applied to series for lower-frequency words, using a moving-average algorithm. This reduces short-term fluctuations, which may be produced by variability in the content of the corpus.

Period | Frequency per million words
--- | ---
2017 | 1.5
2018 | 1.5
2019 | 1.5
2020 | 1.4
2021 | 1.4
2022 | 1.4
2023 | 1.3
2024 | 1.3

## Phrasal verbs

1. 1. to zero in
      1. 1. 1.a.
            1943–
            intransitive. To set the sights of a gun or missile on a target; to take aim; (more loosely) to select a person or place as the object of attack. Frequently with on. Cf. sense 2, zero n. A.6.
            1. 1943

               > The sergeant checked positions and then ‘zeroed in.’

               Stars & Stripes (Mediterranean edition) 11 December 3/3
            2. 1991

               > With Saddam zeroing in on Tel Aviv, Israel may contemplate scrambling its jets again.

               Newsweek 28 January 26/4
            3. 2012

               > The militia ‘walked’ 120mm mortar shells right into the central area of the palace, zeroing in on the old British consulate building.

               M. R. Gordon & B. E. Trainor, Endgame xxv. 478
            gunnery and firearms
            1. to zero in 1943–
               intransitive. To set the sights of a gun or missile on a target; to take aim; (more loosely) to select a person or place as the object of attack…
            View in Historical Thesaurus
         2. 1.b.
            1944–
            transitive. Chiefly in passive. To set the sights of a gun or missile on (a target).
            1. 1944

               > Don't you know the Jerries have that road zeroed in?—a phrase meaning the Germans had sighted their guns on the road and needed only to pull their triggers.

               Newsweek 8 January 45
            2. 1965

               > American bases overseas and American targets on the mainland are at all times zeroed in by Soviet missiles, and vice versa.

               H. Kahn, On Escalation iv. 74
            3. 1971

               > These roads were well covered by strongpoints, and zeroed-in by artillery.

               Scope (South Africa) 19 March 20/4
            4. 2016

               > The trooper..moved the cattle into the field that was zeroed in by the Germans.

               G. J. Dettore, Screaming Eagle Gliders iv. 238
         3. 1.c.
            1944–
            transitive. Chiefly in passive. To set the sights of (a gun or missile) on a target. Frequently with on.
            1. 1944

               > Germans who had retreated out of town ‘zeroed in’ mortar shells among troops and light tanks which tried to follow.

               Life 14 August 57/1
            2. 1961

               > The Russians now have some 50 ICBMs ready to go, presumably zeroed in on U.S. targets.

               Time (Atlantic edition) 17 February 16
            3. 1984

               > The Vietnamese were using long-range 130-millimeter howitzers zeroed in by forward observers.

               New York Times (Nexis) 29 December i. 3/1
            4. 2003

               > Tokyo believes Pyongyang already has about 100 Nodong missiles zeroed in on targets around Japan.

               Australian (Nexis) 7 March (World section) 8
            gunnery and firearms
            1. reach Old English–1591
               transitive. To direct, aim. Obsolete. rare.
            2. set a1300–1700
               To direct, aim (transitive and intransitive). Obsolete.
            3. shape c1400–1596
               To direct, address (speech); to aim (a blow). Obsolete.
            4. ettle c1450–
               transitive. To direct (something) to or at a person or thing; esp. to aim (a blow or missile) at. Also intransitive to take aim (at).
            5. charge 1517
               transitive. To aim and direct (a blow or hit). Obsolete. rare.
            6. bend 1530–1803
               transitive. To direct, turn, aim, level, bring to bear (cannon, forces, etc.) against, upon, at. Obsolete.
            7. level 1530–
               To aim (a missile weapon); to ‘lay’ (a gun); also rarely, to bring (a spear) to the proper level for striking. Also to level one's aim. (Frequently…
            8. aim c1565–
               transitive. To direct (a weapon), prepare (a blow), etc., with the intention of making it strike the desired mark or target. Frequently with at…
            9. butt 1594
               transitive. To aim or direct (a thing) on something.
            10. levy 1618–
                Used for level, v.¹
            11. to give level to 1669
                The action of aiming a missile weapon, aim. to give level to: to aim (a gun). to lay, bend, take level: to take aim, to aim. Also, the line of…
            12. wise 1721
                To direct, aim, ‘send’, shoot (a missile) (Scottish); †figurative to utter.
            13. intend a1734
                transitive. To direct, level, aim (something) against someone. Obsolete.
            14. train 1795–
                transitive. To direct, point, or aim (originally a cannon or other firearm, later also the eye or sight, or an optical device), esp. by horizontal…
            15. sight 1901–
                To take aim at (an object); to level or aim (a firearm, etc.) at a target.
            16. to zero in 1944–
                transitive. Chiefly in passive. To set the sights of (a gun or missile) on a target. Frequently with on.
            View in Historical Thesaurus
            1. register 1914–
               transitive. Military. To sight a gun or guns on (a target); spec. to pre-record the position (in terms of azimuth, range, and angle of sight) of (a…
            2. to zero in 1944–
               transitive. Chiefly in passive. To set the sights of (a gun or missile) on a target. Frequently with on.
            View in Historical Thesaurus
      2. 2.
         1955–
         intransitive. To concentrate attention or effort on or upon something. Cf. focus v. II.4a.
         1. 1955

            > Most critics have zeroed in on the car's engineering.

            Popular Science July 113/1
         2. 1961

            > This book will zero-in on the increasingly important psychological tests.

            D. Huff, Score (1962) p. ix
         3. 1976

            > Wittgenstein zeroes in upon linguistic constraints and logical conditions as they are made manifest in common, ordinary speech.

            Word vol. 27 142
         4. 2007

            > She ignored the raging primal screams and instead zeroed in on the lyrics' inherent despair.

            Esquire November 123/2
         1. concentre 1643–
            transitive. To cause (a person's thoughts, feelings, faculties, etc.) to be gathered and directed towards a single goal or object. Frequently with on…
         2. think 1821–
            To turn over in the mind, meditate on, ponder over, consider. transitive. With simple object. Now only: to have one's mental processes full of…
         3. concentrate 1860–
            transitive. To cause (one's gaze, attention, effort, etc.) to be focused (on something).
         4. to zero in 1955–
            intransitive. To concentrate attention or effort on or upon something. Cf. focus, v. II.4a.
         View in Historical Thesaurus
      3. 3.
         1957–
         intransitive. Of a camera, photographer, etc.: to bring a subject into close-up; to zoom in on.
         1. 1957

            > Soon local photographers zeroed in on Miss Dougan's bare spinal column.

            Independent-Press-Telegram (Long Beach, California) 19 May (Parade section) 20/2
         2. 1976

            > Despite the limitation of not being able to change lenses—to..zero in to show ‘colors’ in the bottom of a gold pan—you'll take a lot of..pictures.

            Field & Stream October 99/3
         3. 1985

            > Security cameras were installed to stop vandalism, but they zeroed in on the athletes as they traipsed back and forth across a corridor from the shower to their locker room.

            Weekly World News 1 January 11/1
         4. 2012

            > A tiny red light inside the black eye was the only clue that the camera had zeroed in on you.

            A. Bracken, Darkest Minds (2013) iv. 44
         optics
         1. zoom 1944–
            Cinematography and Photography. intransitive. Of a camera, lens, etc.: to change smoothly from a long shot of a subject to a close-up, or vice…
         2. to zero in 1957–
            intransitive. Of a camera, photographer, etc.: to bring a subject into close-up; to zoom in on.
         View in Historical Thesaurus
      4. 4.
         1959–
         intransitive. To move towards something, as if to a target; to close in on. Also figurative.
         1. 1959

            > The squadrons of flies that zeroed in on his shiny pate.

            Guardian 26 September 5/2
         2. 1972

            > I zeroed in on the downstairs bar.

            W. Garner, Ditto, Brother Rat! iv. 30
         3. 1983

            > Its staff were slowly but surely zeroing in on the essential secret of successful breakfast broadcasting in this country.

            Listener 14 April 33/1
         4. 2015

            > The residents saw me right away and zeroed in.

            B. Bertolino, Working with Children & Adoloescents in Residence Care iii. 36
         1. home 1920–
            intransitive. Of a vessel, aircraft, missile, etc.: to move or be guided to a target or destination by use of a landmark or by means of a radio…
         2. to zero in 1959–
            intransitive. To move towards something, as if to a target; to close in on. Also figurative.
         3. to hone in 1965–
            intransitive. to hone in: to head directly for something; to turn one's attention intently towards something. Usually with on. Cf. home, v. 5a.
         View in Historical Thesaurus
   2. to zero out
      1. 1951–
         transitive. To reduce to zero; to eliminate, remove; to omit, leave out. Cf. sense 5.
         1. 1951

            > In each case, there seem to be ‘zeroed out’ what are probably the most frequently used; that is, affirmation, indicative mode, present tense and punctual aspect are simply lack of negation.

            International Journal of American Linguistics vol. 17 164/2
         2. 1972

            > The deletion of are has reached such a high point that it is effectively zeroed out for many speakers.

            W. Labov, Language in Inner City ii. 52
         3. 1982

            > Watch..for word of new budget cuts, including Federal programmes that are to be ‘zeroed out’.

            Daily Telegraph 25 January 12/7
         4. 2011

            > After a recent House vote to zero out funding for next year, [etc.].

            Hill (Nexis) 5 December 20
         1. fornim Old English–1430
            transitive. To take away, do away with, destroy; also, to take up, appropriate by encroachment.
         2. to put away a1382–1799
            transitive. To drive out or away (a disease, etc.); to dispel; to efface, obliterate; to do away with, get rid of. Obsolete.
         3. outroot?a1425–
            transitive. To pluck out or up by the root; to root out, eradicate, exterminate.
         4. unroot?a1425–
            transitive. figurative. To eradicate, clear out, remove altogether.
         5. out-raze c1425–1626
            transitive. To obliterate, destroy; to erase, efface, rub out.
         6. to pluck up 1484–
            transitive. To pull up; to pull (a thing) out of the place in which it is planted or set; to uproot; to eradicate; to raze, demolish. Cf. sense 4a…
         7. avell 1530–1651
            To pull or tear away, pull up.
         8. sweep 1560–
            Chiefly with away: To remove forcibly or as at one blow from its position or status, or out of existence; to do away with, destroy utterly.
         9. depopulate 1576–1650
            transitive. To destroy, cut off. Obsolete.
         10. ruin a1586–1725
             transitive. To destroy, extirpate, eradicate; to do away with, get rid of, by a destructive process. Obsolete.
         11. assoil 1596–
             To purge oneself from, purge, expiate, atone for. (From I.1, I.2.) archaic.
         12. to lay aside 1596–1726
             transitive. To put out of the way, get rid of. Obsolete.
         13. untop 1598–
             transitive. To deprive of a top. Also figurative.
         14. displant 1603–38
             figurative. To root up, eradicate.
         15. float 1606–
             Of water, the tide, etc.: to lift up, or support on its surface (anything buoyant); to bear (anything buoyant) along by the force of the current…
         16. to take off 1619–
             transitive. Esp. of a disease or other cause of death: to kill, to ‘carry off’.
         17. amolish 1624–54
             transitive. To remove forcibly; to do away with.
         18. uproot a1639–
             figurative. To remove as by tearing up; to eradicate, exterminate, destroy.
         19. eradicate 1647–
             To remove entirely, extirpate, get rid of.
         20. to lay by 1681
             transitive. = to lay aside at phrasal verbs; †also = to lay aside at phrasal verbs.
         21. to polish off 1827–
             transitive. colloquial. to polish off: to complete or consume quickly or easily (cf. sense 1d); to get rid of, destroy, or kill.
         22. uprend 1911–
             transitive. To pull or tear up; to uproot.
         23. to zero out 1951–
             transitive. To reduce to zero; to eliminate, remove; to omit, leave out. Cf. sense 5.
         View in Historical Thesaurus

## Compounds & derived words

Sort by

1. zeroing, n. 1906–
   The adjustment of an instrument or device to give…

1. rezero, v. 1953–
   transitive. To reset (esp. a measuring device) to…

1. zeroable, adj. 1956–
   Of an instrument or device: capable of being…

zero, v. was revised in June 2018.

zero, v. was last modified in June 2025.