below zero — at a temperature lower than the freezing point of water (0°C or 32°F)
Part of speech: ADJECTIVE
Definition: at a temperature lower than the freezing point of water (0°C or 32°F)
Pronunciation (IPA): /bɪˈloʊ ˈzɪroʊ/
Example Sentences
- My motivation to exercise drops below zero when I see my gym membership bill.
- The Arctic explorer's beard turned white when temperatures fell below zero.
- His patience level went below zero when the Wi-Fi crashed during his presentation.
below zero
ADJECTIVE[/bɪˈloʊ ˈzɪroʊ/]
at a temperature lower than the freezing point of water (0°C or 32°F)
The thermometer drops below zero as villagers bundle up by the frozen well.
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
Below derives from Old English be- (by, near) combined with low (lowly, beneath), literally meaning 'beneath or under'. Zero originates from Arabic sifr (empty, cipher), which entered European languages through Medieval Latin zephirum. The compound 'below zero' emerged in modern English to describe temperatures lower than the zero point on temperature scales.
Breakdown
be- (by, near) + low (beneath, lowly) + zero (from Arabic sifr, meaning empty or cipher). The phrase combines an Old English preposition with an Old English adjective and an Arabic-derived numeral to express values beneath the zero reference point.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“My motivation to exercise drops below zero when I see my gym membership bill.”
“The Arctic explorer's beard turned white when temperatures fell below zero.”
“His patience level went below zero when the Wi-Fi crashed during his presentation.”
“Water pipes can burst when temperatures remain below zero for extended periods.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
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