cipher , cypher
n
1 a method of secret writing using substitution or transposition of letters according to a key
3 the key to a secret message
4 an obsolete name for →
zero →
1
5 any of the Arabic numerals (0, 1, 2, 3, etc., to 9) or the Arabic system of numbering as a whole
6 a person or thing of no importance; nonentity
7 a design consisting of interwoven letters; monogram
8 (Music) a defect in an organ resulting in the continuous sounding of a pipe, the key of which has not been depressed
vb
9 to put (a message) into secret writing
10 intr (of an organ pipe) to sound without having the appropriate key depressed
11 Rare to perform (a calculation) arithmetically (C14: from Old French cifre zero, from Medieval Latin cifra, from Arabic sifr zero, empty)
cypher
n
vb a variant spelling of →
cipher