zeroth
Preceding all others
Zeroth designates the position before first in a sequence, used when counting begins at zero rather than one.
The term appears mainly in mathematics, computer science, and physics, where zero-indexing is standard: the zeroth element of an array, the zeroth law of thermodynamics.
It follows the pattern of first, second, third but backs up one step.
Standard for comparison
- fundamentalForming the base
- axiomaticAccepted without question
- primaryChief in importance
- basicFundamental in nature
underlying · core · root · elementary · primitive · original · ground · precondition
Position number one
- secondUnit smaller than minute
- thirdPosition number three
- nthIndefinite ordinal position
- cardinalOf foremost importance
index · numbering · counting · sequence · position · ranking · enumeration · order
Binding principle or regulation
- thermodynamicsScience of heat-energy relationships
- postulateAssumed starting point
- theoremDemonstrated logical conclusion
- principleFundamental truth or standard
axiom · proof · logic · derivation · formulation · proposition · lemma · corollary
baseline
Standard for comparison
- fundamentalForming the base
- axiomaticAccepted without question
- primaryChief in importance
basic · underlying · core · root · elementary · primitive · original · ground · precondition · prerequisite
first
Position number one
cardinal · index · numbering · counting · sequence · position · ranking · enumeration · order · placement
law
Binding principle or regulation
- thermodynamicsScience of heat-energy relationships
- postulateAssumed starting point
- theoremDemonstrated logical conclusion
principle · axiom · proof · logic · derivation · formulation · proposition · lemma · corollary · definition
- below zeroTemperature beneath freezing
- zero-tolerance policiesAutomatic penalties without discretion
- ground zeroExplosion's central impact point
- zero inFocus with precision
- zero tolerancePolicy allowing no infractions
- zeroed inFocused with precision
zero, zeros, subzero, zeroes, zeroed, zeroing, absolute zero, ground zero, below zero