Cipher: meaning, definitions and examples

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cipher

[ ˈsīfər ]

^{Context #1}

secret

A secret or disguised way of writing; a code.

Synonyms

code, cryptogram, encryption

Examples of usage

The spy used a cipher to communicate with headquarters.
The message was written in a cipher that only the recipient could decode.

^{Context #2}

zero

A secret or disguised way of writing; a code.

Synonyms

naught, null, zero

Examples of usage

The message was written in a cipher that only the recipient could decode.
The number zero is sometimes referred to as a cipher.

^{Context #3}

solve

To decrypt or convert a coded message into plain text.

Synonyms

decipher, decode, decrypt

Examples of usage

The detective was able to cipher the message and uncover the hidden meaning.
She spent hours trying to cipher the secret code.

Translations

Translations of the word "cipher" in other languages:

🇵🇹 cifra

🇮🇳 सिफर

🇩🇪 Chiffre

🇮🇩 sandi

🇺🇦 шифр

🇵🇱 szyfr

🇯🇵 暗号 (あんごう)

🇫🇷 chiffre

🇪🇸 cifra

🇹🇷 şifre

🇰🇷 암호 (암호)

🇸🇦 شيفرة

🇨🇿 šifra

🇸🇰 šifra

🇨🇳 密码 (mìmǎ)

🇸🇮 šifra

🇮🇸 dulkóðun

🇰🇿 шифр

🇬🇪 შიფრი

🇦🇿 şifrə

🇲🇽 cifra

Word origin

The word 'cipher' originated from the Arabic word 'sifr', which means 'zero' or 'empty'. It was later adopted into Latin as 'cifra' and then into Old French as 'cifre'. The use of 'cipher' evolved to refer to secret writing or codes, often used in cryptography and espionage. Over time, 'cipher' also came to represent the number zero, reflecting its origins in Arabic numerals.