Standard Lemma guide

nil-

prefix · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

prefix

Meaning 1

Zero.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: morpheme

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

prefix

Meaning 2

Used for the digit zero to form systematic element names of elements whose existence has been predicted, and which have not yet been given a trivial name.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: morpheme

Topics: chemistry, natural-sciences, physical-sciences

Examples

  • un- (“1”) + bi- (“2”) + nil- (“0”) + -ium (element suffix) → unbinilium (“element 120”)

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From Latin nil (“nothing”), shortened form of nihil.