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| ci·pher [ sfər ] or cy·pher [ sfər ] |
noun (plural ci·phers) (plural cy·phers) |
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| Definition: |
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1. written code: a written code in which the letters of a text are replaced with others according to a system
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2. code key: the key to a cipher
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3. text in code: a text written in cipher
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4. design design of interlacing initials: a decorative design consisting of a set of interlaced initials
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5. music fault in organ valve: a fault in an organ valve that causes a pipe to sound continuously without the key having been pressed
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verb (past and past participle ci·phered, present participle ci·pher·ing, 3rd person present singular ci·phers) (past and past participle cy·phered, present participle cy·pher·ing, 3rd person present singular cy·phers) |
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| Definition: |
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1. transitive verb write in code: to write a text or message in cipher
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2. intransitive verb music sound owing to fault: to sound continuously because of a faulty valve
(
refers to organs or organ pipes
)
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| [14th century. Via Old French cif(f)re< Arabic ṣifr "zero"] |