cipher
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.a secret way of writing where you change letters or numbers to hide the message.
n.a cryptographic system or algorithm for performing encryption or decryption.
Simple“The spies used a complex cipher to send messages that no one else could read.”
In context“The historical document was written in a substitution cipher that remained unbroken for over three centuries.”
SynonymscodecryptographAntonymsplaintext - 02 C1 Advanced
n.a person who has no power or whose character is not clear to others.
n.a person of no influence, importance, or distinct personality; a nonentity.
Simple“He felt like a cipher in the large company, just a number that nobody noticed.”
In context“Despite his high-ranking title, he was a mere cipher, with all actual policy decisions being made by his subordinates.”
SynonymsnonentitynobodyAntonyms - 03 C2 Proficiency
n.a circle of rappers or dancers who take turns showing their skills.
n.an informal gathering of rappers, beatboxers, or breakdancers in a circle to jam or improvise together.
Simple“After the concert, a group of local rappers started a cipher on the street corner.”
In context“The underground event culminated in an intense cipher where each emcee had to improvise over a shifting breakbeat.”
Synonymsjam sessioncircle - 04 C2 Proficiency
n.an old word for the number zero.
n.a mathematical symbol for zero; the absence of quantity.
Simple“In the old ledger, the accountant marked the empty balance with a cipher.”
In context“The manuscript uses a unique glyph for the cipher, distinguishing it from the other Arabic numerals in the sequence.”
- 05 C2 Proficiency
v.to do math or solve a problem using numbers.
v.to perform mathematical calculations or arithmetic.
Simple“The schoolboy spent the afternoon learning to cipher on his slate.”
In context“He was known in the village for his ability to cipher large sums in his head without the aid of a ledger.”
- 06 C1 Advanced
v.to turn a message into a secret code.
v.to convert a message into ciphertext using a specific algorithm.
Simple“The diplomat had to cipher the report before sending it to the capital.”
In context“Standard protocols require the operator to cipher all sensitive transmissions before they are broadcast over open frequencies.”
14th century. From Middle English cifre, from Old French cyfre, cyffre (French chiffre), ultimately from Arabic صِفْر (ṣifr, “zero, empty”), from صَفَرَ (ṣafara, “to be empty”). Doublet of chiffre and zero. Sense 8 (a fault in an organ valve) may be a different word.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.