Meanings
nounzero-grade (plural zero-grades)
plural zero-grades · alternative zero grade
- Indo-European linguisticsIn Proto-Indo-European linguistics, an ablaut form of a root characterized by the absence of the basic ablauting vowel phonemes */e/ and */o/.
*bʰr̥- is the zero-grade of the Indo-European root *bʰer- meaning “to carry, bear”.
Synonyms: vanishing grade
Synonyms & antonyms
nounIn Proto-Indo-European linguistics, an ablaut form of a root characterized by the absence of the basic ablauting vowel phonemes */e/ and */o/.
Similar
Also see
Origin
Translations
Danish nultrin
- nultrinTranslations
Dutch nultrap
- nultrapTranslations
German Schwundstufe, Nullstufe
- SchwundstufeTranslations
- NullstufeTranslations
Cite this entry
APA
zero-grade. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/zero-grade
MLA
“zero-grade.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/zero-grade. Accessed November 2, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “zero-grade,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/zero-grade.
Source: zero-grade on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.