Advertisement
Advertisement
cipher
[ sahy-fer ]
noun
- a secret method of writing or recording data, such as by substituting or adding letters or numbers, using specially formed symbols, or the like; code: cryptography.
The spies exchanged messages using a complex cipher.
The encryption software creates unbreakable ciphers for secure communication.
- writing, or a piece of writing, done by a secret method; a coded message:
Hostile agents intercepted the cipher and began trying to figure out its meaning.
- the key to a secret method of writing:
After a year of studying the coded messages, the analysts were no closer to discovering the cipher.
- someone or something that is not understood; mystery or enigma:
I just can’t figure him out—he’s a complete cipher to me.
- a person or thing of no influence or importance; nonentity:
Having lost the party leadership, she is now a mere cipher on the political scene.
- Usually cypher.
- a performance by a group of rappers, hip-hop artists, or break dancers who take turns improvising individual verses, dances, etc.
- an individual verse, dance, etc., that is part of such a performance.
- any of the Arabic numerals, such as 1, 2, or 3, or any number written with such numerals, such as 476.
- Arabic numerical notation collectively:
The date is MXML in Roman numerals, or 1950 in cipher.
- a combination of letters, such as the initials of a name, in one design; monogram:
The cipher for Queen Elizabeth II had an E entwined with an R for regina, Latin for “queen,” on either side of a Roman numeral II.
verb (used without object)
- to use figures or numerals arithmetically; do arithmetic:
He had never learned to read or write, but he could cipher.
- to write messages in or as if in a secret code.
verb (used with object)
- to convert into code; encrypt:
The program works by ciphering or scrambling the data.
- to figure out the meaning of; interpret or decode (often used with out ):
Using a good phrase book, the tourist was able to cipher out what people were saying.
- to calculate numerically; figure (often used with out ):
I tried to cipher out the interest on the loan, compounded over five years.
cipher
/ ˈɪə /
noun
- a method of secret writing using substitution or transposition of letters according to a key
- a secret message
- the key to a secret message
- an obsolete name for zero
- any of the Arabic numerals (0, 1, 2, 3, etc, to 9) or the Arabic system of numbering as a whole
- a person or thing of no importance; nonentity
- a design consisting of interwoven letters; monogram
- music a defect in an organ resulting in the continuous sounding of a pipe, the key of which has not been depressed
verb
- to put (a message) into secret writing
- intr (of an organ pipe) to sound without having the appropriate key depressed
- rare.to perform (a calculation) arithmetically
Other 51Թ Forms
- ··· adjective
- ·· noun
51Թ History and Origins
Origin of cipher1
51Թ History and Origins
Origin of cipher1
Example Sentences
That conversation comes up in “Twin Peaks: The Return” as Lynch flat-out confirms Laura Palmer to be a cipher for unyielding good, intended to restore universal balance after humankind developed a new capacity for evil.
The rest of them in the film are ciphers whose motives, dreams, suffering and rage remain unknown to us.
While “Million Dollar Baby” is one of this year’s defining singles, Richman remains largely a cipher.
With his background in military intelligence, Eugene is a cipher, allowing people to project whatever they desire onto him.
As a gastroenterologist and gut microbiome researcher at the University of Washington School of Medicine, I have dedicated my career to decoding the cipher of how food affects this microbial community within your gut.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Browse