cipher

Pluralciphers

Formsciphers, ciphering, ciphered

1. 1
   nouncountable

   A secret way of changing the letters of a message so only certain people can read it.

   The website uses a strong cipher to keep your password safe.

   Fast computers can now break many older ciphers.

   UsagePeople break or crack a cipher.

   Note
2. 2
   coded textnouncountable

   A secret message written so that only some people can read it.

   She found a cipher hidden inside the old book.

   Nobody in class could read the cipher on the board.

3. 3
   nobodynouncountable

   A person or thing that does not matter at all.

   At work he felt like a cipher that nobody noticed.

   The king was a cipher, and his advisers made every choice.

   UsageSay someone is a mere cipher when they have no power.

   Similarnobody, nonentity, zero, nothing, also-ran

   Note
4. 4
   verbintransitive

   To write in a secret code.

   During the war, she learned to cipher for the army.

   The two friends ciphered in their notebooks so no one else could read them.

   Similarencode, encrypt

   Oppositedecode, decrypt

5. 5
   letter designnouncountable

   A design made by joining letters together, such as the first letters of a person's name.

   The old mailbox still shows the king's cipher.

   The painter signed each picture with a small cipher instead of her full name.

   UsageMost people say monogram for joined initials.

   Similarmonogram

   Note
6. 6
   rap sessionnounslangcountable

   A meeting where people play or rap hip-hop music together just for fun.

   Every Friday night, rappers form a cipher in the park and take turns.

   He was too shy to rap in the cipher at first.

   UsageRappers say they are in the cipher.

   Note
7. 7
   smoking circlenounslangcountable

   The way shared cannabis is passed around a group, usually in a circle, or a time when people smoke it.

   He passed the joint to his left to keep the cipher moving.

   Police broke up their cipher in the park and took the weed.

   Similarrotation

   Note

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