The Meaning of cifra
Word: Cifra
Language: Spanish
Definition:
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- A numeral or a digit; a figure typically used in mathematics and statistics.
- A symbol representing a number in a system, often devoid of context or meaning on its own, can refer to any numeric digit (0-9).
- In a broader sense, it can refer to a code or a cipher, particularly in cryptographic contexts where ‘cifra’ can mean an encoded message or any symbol-based representation of information.
Usage:
- “El número de la población se puede expresar en cifras.” (The number of the population can be expressed in figures.)
- “La cifra secreta es necesaria para acceder al sistema.” (The secret code is necessary to access the system.)
Etymology: The word ‘cifra’ comes from the Arabic word “ṣifr” (صفر), which means “zero.” It was transmitted into Latin as “cifra,” evolving in meaning to refer to digits and figures in the context of numbers and mathematics.
Pronunciation: /ˈθifɾa/ (in Spain) or /ˈsifɾa/ (in Latin America), where ‘c’ before ‘i’ sounds like ’th’ in Spain and ’s’ in Latin America.
Synonyms:
- Dígito (digit)
- Número (number)
- Signo (sign)
- Código (code)
Antonyms:
- Palabra (word) - in the context of being a numeral vs. a word
- Letra (letter) - indicating an alphabetic character as opposed to a numerical value
In summary, ‘cifra’ is a versatile term primarily associated with numeric representation, encompassing both basic digit usage and cryptographic connotation in its extended meaning.
-
La cifra de ventas aumentó este trimestre.
(The sales figure increased this quarter.) -
Necesito que me des la cifra total de asistentes.
(I need you to give me the total number of attendees.) -
La cifra de la inflación ha sido alarmante este año.
(The inflation figure has been alarming this year.) -
La cifra secreta para acceder a la caja fuerte es 1234.
(The secret code to access the safe is 1234.) -
En el examen, obtuve una cifra muy alta en matemáticas.
(In the exam, I got a very high score in mathematics.)