zilch — nothing at all; zero
Part of speech: NOUN
Definition: nothing at all; zero
Pronunciation (IPA): /zɪltʃ/
Example Sentences
- After buying the expensive coffee machine, I have zilch left in my bank account.
- My cooking skills? Zilch. I can barely boil water.
- The research yielded zilch - no useful data whatsoever.
zilch
NOUN[/zɪltʃ/]
nothing at all; zero
He opened the fridge hoping for a snack, but found zilch inside.
No matter how the witch flips each switch, she gets zilch!
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
Zilch emerged in 1960s American slang as a humorous coinage meaning 'nothing' or 'zero'. The exact origin remains uncertain, but it likely developed as an onomatopoetic or playful variant intended to convey emptiness with comedic effect, possibly influenced by Yiddish sound patterns.
Breakdown
The word lacks a clear morphological breakdown, as it is a semantically opaque slang coinage rather than a compound of recognizable roots. Its formation appears to be primarily expressive, created for humorous emphasis rather than from combining meaningful morphemes.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“After buying the expensive coffee machine, I have zilch left in my bank account.”
“My cooking skills? Zilch. I can barely boil water.”
“The research yielded zilch - no useful data whatsoever.”
“I studied all night but remembered zilch during the exam.”
📚Related Words
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