GHOST
04-16-2003, 01:54 AM
zeroth \ZEE-roath\ adjective
: being numbered zero in a series; also : of, relating to, or being a zero
Example sentence:
"A fundamental scientific law, known as the zeroth law of thermodynamics, says that nothing can ever be cooled down to absolute zero." (Roger Highfield, Hamilton Spectator [Canada], August 9, 1997)
Did you know?
You don't have to be a rocket scientist to use "zeroth," but the word, which was coined by physicists a little over a hundred years ago, does often show up in scientific contexts. (It comes from "zero," which is itself from Arabic "sifr.") Renowned Soviet physicist Lev Landau had a little fun with "zeroth" when he classified all the famous physicists according to the relative value of their contributions to science. He put Niels Bohr and Max Planck, for example, right up there in the first class, and lesser-rated physicists in the second through fifth classes. Where did he think Albert Einstein and Isaac Newton belonged? They were unmatched, he felt, and they went in the category that superseded the first — his zeroth class.
THIS CAME IN MY 'WORD OF THE DAY'
: being numbered zero in a series; also : of, relating to, or being a zero
Example sentence:
"A fundamental scientific law, known as the zeroth law of thermodynamics, says that nothing can ever be cooled down to absolute zero." (Roger Highfield, Hamilton Spectator [Canada], August 9, 1997)
Did you know?
You don't have to be a rocket scientist to use "zeroth," but the word, which was coined by physicists a little over a hundred years ago, does often show up in scientific contexts. (It comes from "zero," which is itself from Arabic "sifr.") Renowned Soviet physicist Lev Landau had a little fun with "zeroth" when he classified all the famous physicists according to the relative value of their contributions to science. He put Niels Bohr and Max Planck, for example, right up there in the first class, and lesser-rated physicists in the second through fifth classes. Where did he think Albert Einstein and Isaac Newton belonged? They were unmatched, he felt, and they went in the category that superseded the first — his zeroth class.
THIS CAME IN MY 'WORD OF THE DAY'