cipher

ci·pher also cy·pher  (sfr)

n.

1. The mathematical symbol (0) denoting absence of quantity; zero.

2. An Arabic numeral or figure; a number.

3. One having no influence or value; a nonentity.

4.

a. A cryptographic system in which units of plain text of regular length, usually letters, are arbitrarily transposed or substituted according to a predetermined code.

b. The key to such a system.

c. A message written or transmitted in such a system.

5. A design combining or interweaving letters or initials; a monogram.

v. ci·phered also cy·phered, ci·pher·ing also cy·pher·ing, ci·phers also cy·phers

v.intr.

To solve problems in arithmetic; calculate. See Synonyms at calculate.

v.tr.

1. To put in secret writing; encode.

2. To solve by means of arithmetic.

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[Middle English cifre, from Old French, from Medieval Latin cifra, from Arabic ifr, from afira, to be empty (translation of Sanskrit nyam, cipher, dot); see pr¹ in Semitic roots.]

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cipher or cypher [sife-er]

Noun

1. a method of secret writing using substitution of letters according to a key

2. a secret message

3. the key to a secret message

4. a person or thing of no importance

5. Obsolete the numeral zero

Verb

to put (a message) into secret writing [Arabic sifr zero]

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Any cryptographic system in which arbitrary symbols (or groups of symbols) represent units of plain text of regular length, usually single letters; units of plain text are rearranged; or both, in accordance with certain predetermined rules. See also cryptosystem.

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	cipher - a message written in a secret code   cypher message - a communication (usually brief) that is written or spoken or signaled; "he sent a three-word message"
	2.	cipher - a mathematical element that when added to another number yields the same number 0, cypher, nought, zero digit, figure - one of the elements that collectively form a system of numeration; "0 and 1 are digits"
	3.	cipher - a quantity of no importance; "it looked like nothing I had ever seen before"; "reduced to nil all the work we had done"; "we racked up a pathetic goose egg"; "it was all for naught"; "I didn't hear zilch about it" goose egg, nada, naught, nil, nix, nothing, null, zero, zilch, zip, zippo, aught, cypher relative quantity - a quantity relative to some purpose nihil - (Latin) nil; nothing (as used by a sheriff after an unsuccessful effort to serve a writ); "nihil habet" bugger all, Fanny Adams, fuck all, sweet Fanny Adams - little or nothing at all; "I asked for a raise and they gave me bugger-all"; "I know sweet Fanny Adams about surgery"
	4.	cipher - a person of no influence nobody, nonentity, cypher common man, common person, commoner - a person who holds no title pip-squeak, small fry, squirt - someone who is small and insignificant jackanapes, whippersnapper, lightweight - someone who is unimportant but cheeky and presumptuous
	5.	cipher - a secret method of writing           cryptograph, secret code, cypher code - a coding system used for transmitting messages requiring brevity or secrecy
Verb	1.	cipher - convert ordinary language into code; "We should encode the message for security reasons" cypher, encipher, encrypt, write in code, code, inscribe encode - convert information into code; "encode pictures digitally"
	2.	cipher - make a mathematical calculation or computation calculate, compute, cypher, figure, reckon, work out math, mathematics, maths - a science (or group of related sciences) dealing with the logic of quantity and shape and arrangement reason - think logically; "The children must learn to reason" quantise, quantize - apply quantum theory to; restrict the number of possible values of (a quantity) or states of (a physical entity or system) so that certain variables can assume only certain discrete magnitudes that are integral multiples of a common factor; "Quantize gravity" work out - be calculated; "The fees work out to less than $1,000" extract - calculate the root of a number process - perform mathematical and logical operations on (data) according to programmed instructions in order to obtain the required information; "The results of the elections were still being processed when he gave his acceptance speech" prorate - divide or assess proportionally; "The rent was prorated for the rest of the month" miscalculate, misestimate - calculate incorrectly; "I miscalculated the number of guests at the wedding" recalculate - calculate anew; "The costs had to be recalculated" average out, average - compute the average of factor, factor in, factor out - resolve into factors; "a quantum computer can factor the number 15" add together, add - make an addition by combining numbers; "Add 27 and 49, please!" deduct, subtract, take off - make a subtraction; "subtract this amount from my paycheck" multiply - combine by multiplication; "multiply 10 by 15" fraction, divide - perform a division; "Can you divide 49 by seven?" interpolate, extrapolate - estimate the value of differentiate - calculate a derivative; take the derivative integrate - calculate the integral of; calculate by integration survey - plot a map of (land) estimate, gauge, approximate, guess, judge - judge tentatively or form an estimate of (quantities or time); "I estimate this chicken to weigh three pounds" budget - make a budget capitalise, capitalize - compute the present value of a business or an income solve, resolve - find the solution; "solve an equation"; "solve for x"

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cipher

noun 1. code, coded message, cryptogram

noun 2. nobody, nonentity

Translations

cipher [ˈsaɪfəʳ] n → clave f;

(fig) → cero;

in cipher → en clave

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cipher [ˈsaɪfəʳ] n → code secret (fig) (= faceless employee etc); numéro m;

in cipher → codé(e)

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cipher [ˈsaɪfəʳ] n (code) → Chiffre f (fig); Niemand m;

in cipher → chiffriert

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cipher [ˈsaɪfəʳ] n → cifra;

(fig) (= faceless employee etc); persona di nessun conto;

in cipher → in codice

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cipher

n cipher [ˈsaifə]

secret writing; a code The message was written in cipher. syferskrif شِفْرَه، رُموز шифър šifra, kód kodeskrift; kode die Chiffre κώδικας, μυστική γραφή código salakiri رمز salakirjoitus code צוֹפֶן शून्य znak titkosírás sandi dulmál scrittura cifrata 暗号 암호, 부호 šifras šifrs; kods tulisan rahsia geheimschrift kode, chifferskrift szyfr código cod шифр šifrované písmo šifra šifra chiffer รหัสลับ şifre 密碼 шифр, код خفیہ تحریری زبان mật mã 密码