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Infinity vs Zero - What's the difference?

infinity | zero |

As nouns the difference between infinity and zero

is that infinity is endlessness, unlimitedness, absence of end or limit while zero is the numeric symbol that represents the cardinal number zero.

As a numeral zero is

the cardinal number occurring before one and that denotes no quantity or amount at all, represented in Arabic numerals as 0.

As an adjective zero is

none.

As a verb zero is

to set a measuring instrument to zero; to calibrate instrument scale to valid zero.

infinity

English

Noun

  • (label) Endlessness, unlimitedness, absence of end or limit.
  • A number that has an infinite numerical value that cannot be counted.
  • * {{quote-magazine, date=2012-01
    • , author=Michael Riordan , title=Tackling Infinity , volume=100, issue=1, page=86 , magazine= citation , passage=Some of the most beautiful and thus appealing physical theories, including quantum electrodynamics and quantum gravity, have been dogged for decades by infinities' that erupt when theorists try to prod their calculations into new domains. Getting rid of these nagging ' infinities has probably occupied far more effort than was spent in originating the theories.}}
  • An idealised point which is said to be approached by sequences of values whose magnitudes increase without bound.
  • (label) A number which is very large compared to some characteristic number. For example, in optics, an object which is much further away than the focal length of a lens is said to be "at infinity", as the distance of the image from the lens varies very little as the distance increases further.
  • (label) The symbol .

    • Usage notes

    In mathematics there are several different infinities; see transfinite.

    Related terms

    * finish * finite * infinite * infinitesimal * infinitieth

    Antonyms

    * finity

    See also

    * eternal * eternity * transfinite

    zero

    English

    (wikipedia zero)

    Numeral

    (head)
  • (cardinal) The cardinal number occurring before one and that denotes no quantity or amount at all, represented in Arabic numerals as .
    • The conductor waited until the passenger count was zero .
    A cheque for zero''' dollars and '''zero''' cents crashed the computers on division by '''zero .

    Usage notes

    * In an adjectival sense, used with the plural of a countable noun: *: I have zero''' dollars and '''zero food.

    Synonyms

    * * o * cipher * (informal) goose egg * naught * nil * no * null

    Derived terms

    * division by zero * zero method * zeroth, zeroeth

    See also

    *

    Noun

  • The numeric symbol that represents the cardinal number zero.
  • The digit in the decimal, binary, and all other base numbering systems.
  • (informal, uncountable) Nothing, or none.
  • The value of a magnitude corresponding to the cardinal number zero.
  • * {{quote-magazine, date=2013-07-06, volume=408, issue=8843, page=68, magazine=(The Economist)
    • , title= The rise of smart beta , passage=Investors face a quandary. Cash offers a return of virtually zero in many developed countries; government-bond yields may have risen in recent weeks but they are still unattractive. Equities have suffered two big bear markets since 2000 and are wobbling again. It is hardly surprising that pension funds, insurers and endowments are searching for new sources of return.}}
  • The point on a scale at which numbering or measurement originates.
  • (mathematics) A value of the independent variables of a function, for which the function is equal to zero.
  • (senseid) (mathematics, algebra) The additive identity element of a monoid or greater algebraic structure, particularly a group or ring.
    • Since a commutative zero is the inverse of any additive identity, it must be unique when it exists.
    The zero''' (of a ring or field) has the property that the product of the '''zero''' with any element yields the '''zero .
    The quotient ring over a maximal ideal is a field with a single zero element.
  • (slang) A person of little or no importance.
    • They rudely treated him like a zero .
  • (military) A , a long range fighter aircraft operated by the Japanese Navy Air Service from 1940 to 1945.
  • A setting of calibrated instruments such as a firearm.
  • (finance) A security which has a zero coupon (paying no periodic interest).
    • The takeovers were financed by issuing zeroes .

    Synonyms

    * (numeric symbol zero) cipher * (digit zero) slashed zero * (point of origin on a scale) origin, zero point * (lowest point) nadir * (negligible or irrelevant amount) naught, nil, nothing, nought, nowt, null, (informal)'' bugger all, ''(informal) fuck all, nada, sod all, sweet FA, sweet Fanny Adams, zilch, zip * (person of little importance) cipher, nobody, nonentity * root * (identity element of a monoid) additive identity

    Antonyms

    * (sense, value of a function's variables at zero) pole

    Holonyms

    * (sense, value of a function's variables at zero) kernel

    Derived terms

    * absolute zero * aleph-zero * decimal without a zero * go from zero to hero * ground zero * negative zero * non-zero * positive zero * size zero * sub-zero * zero air * zero-based budget * zero coupon bond * zero-day * zero deflection * zero-dimensional * zero-emission vehicle * zero-grade * zero hour * zero hundred * zero-knowledge * zero-knowledge proof * zero-length launching * zero one infinity rule * zero-point energy * zero-rated * zero-sum * zero-sum game * zero vector * zero gravity

    Adjective

    (-)
  • (informal, used with noun) none
    • She showed zero respect.
  • (meteorology) Of a cloud ceiling, limiting vision to 50 feet (15 meters) or less.
  • (meteorology) Of horizontal visibility, limited to 165 feet (50.3 meters) or less.
  • (linguistics) Present at an abstract level, but not realized in the data.
    • The stem of "kobieta" with the zero ending is "kobiet".

    Synonyms

    * no

    Derived terms

    * zero tolerance

    Verb

    (es)
  • To set a measuring instrument to zero; to calibrate instrument scale to valid zero.
    • Zero the fluorometer with the same solvent used in extraction.
  • (computing) To change a memory location or range to values of zero; to set a variable in a computer program to zero.
    • Results were inconsistent because an array wasn’t zeroed during initialization.
  • To cause or set some value or amount to be zero.
    • They tried to zero the budget by the end of the quarter.
  • To eliminate; to delete; to overwrite with zeros.
  • * 2001 , Mark Pesce, "True Magic", in True Names by Vernor Vinge and the Opening of the Cyberspace Frontier , James Frenkel (editor)
    • They discovered the object code for the simulator that was DON, and zeroed it. DON — or his creator — was clever and had planted many copies,
  • * 2004 , Anna Maxted, Being Committed , page 358
    • If I zeroed Jack, I'd get by So I'd erased him, pretended the last few months had never happened.
  • To disappear
  • * 1997 , Tom Clancy, Executive Orders , page 340
    • Traffic on the encrypted channels used by senior Iraqi generals had peaked and zeroed', then peaked again, and ' zeroed again.

    Synonyms

    * (to set to zero) tare * (to cause to be zero) zero out

    Derived terms

    * zero in * zero in on * zero out