English Dictionary: Zaire | by the DICT Development Group |
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]: | |
| |
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]: | |
| |
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]: | |
| |
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]: | |
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]: | |
| |
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
Zero \Ze"ro\, n.; pl. {Zeros}or {Zeroes}. [F. z[82]ro, from Ar. [cced]afrun, [cced]ifrun, empty, a cipher. Cf. {Cipher}.] 1. (Arith.) A cipher; nothing; naught. 2. The point from which the graduation of a scale, as of a thermometer, commences. Note: Zero in the Centigrade, or Celsius thermometer, and in the R[82]aumur thermometer, is at the point at which water congeals. The zero of the Fahrenheit thermometer is fixed at the point at which the mercury stands when immersed in a mixture of snow and common salt. In Wedgwood's pyrometer, the zero corresponds with 1077[f8] on the Fahrenheit scale. See Illust. of {Thermometer}. 3. Fig.: The lowest point; the point of exhaustion; as, his patience had nearly reached zero. {Absolute zero}. See under {Absolute}. {Zero method} (Physics), a method of comparing, or measuring, forces, electric currents, etc., by so opposing them that the pointer of an indicating apparatus, or the needle of a galvanometer, remains at, or is brought to, zero, as contrasted with methods in which the deflection is observed directly; -- called also {null method}. {Zero point}, the point indicating zero, or the commencement of a scale or reckoning. | |
From U.S. Gazetteer (1990) [gazetteer]: | |
Zoar, OH (village, FIPS 88168) Location: 40.61397 N, 81.42432 W Population (1990): 177 (74 housing units) Area: 1.4 sq km (land), 0.2 sq km (water) | |
From Jargon File (4.2.0, 31 JAN 2000) [jargon]: | |
zero vt. 1. To set to 0. Usually said of small pieces of data, such as bits or words (esp. in the construction `zero out'). 2. To erase; to discard all data from. Said of disks and directories, where `zeroing' need not involve actually writing zeroes throughout the area being zeroed. One may speak of something being `logically zeroed' rather than being `physically zeroed'. See {scribble}. | |
From The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (15Feb98) [foldoc]: | |
ZERO ["Object Orientation in Z", S. Stepney et al eds, Springer 1992]. [{Jargon File}] (1995-03-30) | |
From The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (15Feb98) [foldoc]: | |
zero 1. opposed to the letter "O" (the 15th letter of the English alphabet). In their unmodified forms they look a lot alike, and various {kluges} invented to make them visually distinct have compounded the confusion. If your zero is centre-dotted and letter-O is not, or if letter-O looks almost rectangular but zero looks more like an American football stood on end (or the reverse), you're probably looking at a modern character display (though the dotted zero seems to have originated as an option on {IBM 3270} controllers). If your zero is slashed but letter-O is not, you're probably looking at an old-style {ASCII} graphic set descended from the default typewheel on the venerable {ASR-33} {Teletype} (Scandinavians, for whom slashed-O is a letter, curse this arrangement). If letter-O has a slash across it and the zero does not, your display is tuned for a very old convention used at {IBM} and a few other early mainframe makers (Scandinavians curse *this* arrangement even more, because it means two of their letters collide). Some {Burroughs}/{Unisys} equipment displays a zero with a *reversed* slash. And yet another convention common on early {line printers} left zero unornamented but added a tail or hook to the letter-O so that it resembled an inverted Q or cursive capital letter-O. [{Jargon File}] (1995-01-24) 2. To set to zero. Usually said of small pieces of data, such as bits or words (especially in the construction "zero out"). 3. To erase; to discard all data from. Said of disks and directories, where "zeroing" need not involve actually writing zeroes throughout the area being zeroed. One may speak of something being "logically zeroed" rather than being "physically zeroed". See {scribble}. (1999-02-07) | |
From The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (15Feb98) [foldoc]: | |
ZERO ["Object Orientation in Z", S. Stepney et al eds, Springer 1992]. [{Jargon File}] (1995-03-30) | |
From The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (15Feb98) [foldoc]: | |
zero 1. opposed to the letter "O" (the 15th letter of the English alphabet). In their unmodified forms they look a lot alike, and various {kluges} invented to make them visually distinct have compounded the confusion. If your zero is centre-dotted and letter-O is not, or if letter-O looks almost rectangular but zero looks more like an American football stood on end (or the reverse), you're probably looking at a modern character display (though the dotted zero seems to have originated as an option on {IBM 3270} controllers). If your zero is slashed but letter-O is not, you're probably looking at an old-style {ASCII} graphic set descended from the default typewheel on the venerable {ASR-33} {Teletype} (Scandinavians, for whom slashed-O is a letter, curse this arrangement). If letter-O has a slash across it and the zero does not, your display is tuned for a very old convention used at {IBM} and a few other early mainframe makers (Scandinavians curse *this* arrangement even more, because it means two of their letters collide). Some {Burroughs}/{Unisys} equipment displays a zero with a *reversed* slash. And yet another convention common on early {line printers} left zero unornamented but added a tail or hook to the letter-O so that it resembled an inverted Q or cursive capital letter-O. [{Jargon File}] (1995-01-24) 2. To set to zero. Usually said of small pieces of data, such as bits or words (especially in the construction "zero out"). 3. To erase; to discard all data from. Said of disks and directories, where "zeroing" need not involve actually writing zeroes throughout the area being zeroed. One may speak of something being "logically zeroed" rather than being "physically zeroed". See {scribble}. (1999-02-07) | |
From The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (15Feb98) [foldoc]: | |
zr "{cd}" is now used instead, since Zaire changed its name to the Democratic Republic of the Congo. (1999-01-27) | |
From Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary [easton]: | |
Zair little, a place probably east of the Dead Sea, where Joram discomfited the host of Edom who had revolted from him (2 Kings 8:21). | |
From Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary [easton]: | |
Zerah sunrise. (1.) An "Ethiopian," probably Osorkon II., the successor of Shishak on the throne of Egypt. With an enormous army, the largest we read of in Scripture, he invaded the kingdom of Judah in the days of Asa (2 Chr. 14:9-15). He reached Zephathah, and there encountered the army of Asa. This is the only instance "in all the annals of Judah of a victorious encounter in the field with a first-class heathen power in full force." The Egyptian host was utterly routed, and the Hebrews gathered "exceeding much spoil." Three hundred years elapsed before another Egyptian army, that of Necho (B.C. 609), came up against Jerusalem. (2.) A son of Tamar (Gen. 38:30); called also Zara (Matt. 1:3). (3.) A Gershonite Levite (1 Chr. 6:21, 41). | |
From Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary [easton]: | |
Zeruah stricken, mother of Jeroboam, the first king of the ten tribes (1 Kings 11:26). | |
From Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary [easton]: | |
Zeruiah stricken of the Lord, David's sister, and the mother of Abishai, Joab, and Asahel (1 Chr. 2:16), who were the three leading heroes of David's army, and being his nephews, they were admitted to the closest companionship with him. | |
From Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary [easton]: | |
Zior littleness, a city in the mountains of Judah (Josh. 15:54); the modern Si'air, 4 1/2 miles north-north-east of Hebron. | |
From Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary [easton]: | |
Zoar small, a town on the east or south-east of the Dead Sea, to which Lot and his daughters fled from Sodom (Gen. 19:22, 23). It was originally called Bela (14:2, 8). It is referred to by the prophets Isaiah (15:5) and Jeremiah (48:34). Its ruins are still seen at the opening of the ravine of Kerak, the Kir-Moab referred to in 2 Kings 3, the modern Tell esh-Shaghur. | |
From Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary [easton]: | |
Zohar brightness. (1.) The father of Ephron the Hittite (Gen. 23:8). (2.) One of the sons of Simeon (Gen. 46:10; Ex. 6:15). | |
From Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary [easton]: | |
Zorah place of wasps, a town in the low country of Judah, afterwards given to Dan (Josh. 19:41; Judg. 18:2), probably the same as Zoreah (Josh. 15:33). This was Samson's birthplace (Judg. 13:2, 25), and near it he found a grave (16:31). It was situated on the crest of a hill overlooking the valley of Sorek, and was fortified by Rehoboam (2 Chr. 11:10). It has been identified with Sur'ah, in the Wady Surar, 8 miles west of Jerusalem. It is noticed on monuments in the fifteenth century B.C. as attacked by the Abiri or Hebrews. | |
From Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary [easton]: | |
Zur rock. (1.) One of the five Midianite kings whom the Israelites defeated and put to death (Num. 31:8). (2.) A Benjamite (1 Chr. 8:30). | |
From Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary (late 1800's) [hitchcock]: | |
Zair, little; afflicted; in tribulation | |
From Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary (late 1800's) [hitchcock]: | |
Zarah, east; brightness | |
From Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary (late 1800's) [hitchcock]: | |
Zareah, leprosy; hornet | |
From Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary (late 1800's) [hitchcock]: | |
Zer, perplexity | |
From Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary (late 1800's) [hitchcock]: | |
Zerah, same as Zarah | |
From Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary (late 1800's) [hitchcock]: | |
Zerahiah, the Lord rising; brightness of the Lord | |
From Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary (late 1800's) [hitchcock]: | |
Zeruah, leprous; wasp; hornet | |
From Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary (late 1800's) [hitchcock]: | |
Zeruiah, pain or tribulation of the Lord | |
From Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary (late 1800's) [hitchcock]: | |
Zior, ship of him that watches | |
From Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary (late 1800's) [hitchcock]: | |
Zoar, little; small | |
From Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary (late 1800's) [hitchcock]: | |
Zohar, white; bright; dryness | |
From Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary (late 1800's) [hitchcock]: | |
Zorah, leprosy; scab; hornet | |
From Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary (late 1800's) [hitchcock]: | |
Zuar, same as Zoar | |
From Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary (late 1800's) [hitchcock]: | |
Zur, stone; rock; that besieges | |
From The CIA World Factbook (1995) [world95]: | |
Zaire Zaire:Geography Location: Central Africa, northeast of Angola Map references: Africa Area: total area: 2,345,410 sq km land area: 2,267,600 sq km comparative area: slightly more than one-quarter the size of US Land boundaries: total 10,271 km, Angola 2,511 km, Burundi 233 km, Central African Republic 1,577 km, Congo 2,410 km, Rwanda 217 km, Sudan 628 km, Uganda 765 km, Zambia 1,930 km Coastline: 37 km Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: boundaries with neighbors territorial sea: 12 nm International disputes: Tanzania-Zaire-Zambia tripoint in Lake Tanganyika may no longer be indefinite since it is reported that the indefinite section of the Zaire-Zambia boundary has been settled; long section with Congo along the Congo River is indefinite (no division of the river or its islands has been made) Climate: tropical; hot and humid in equatorial river basin; cooler and drier in southern highlands; cooler and wetter in eastern highlands; north of Equator - wet season April to October, dry season December to February; south of Equator - wet season November to March, dry season April to October Terrain: vast central basin is a low-lying plateau; mountains in east Natural resources: cobalt, copper, cadmium, petroleum, industrial and gem diamonds, gold, silver, zinc, manganese, tin, germanium, uranium, radium, bauxite, iron ore, coal, hydropower potential Land use: arable land: 3% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 4% forest and woodland: 78% other: 15% Irrigated land: 100 sq km (1989 est.) Environment: current issues: poaching threatens wildlife populations; water pollution; deforestation; 1.2 million Rwandan refugees are responsible for significant deforestation, soil erosion, and wildlife poaching in eastern Zaire natural hazards: periodic droughts in south; volcanic activity international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83; signed, but not ratified - Desertification, Environmental Modification Note: straddles Equator; very narrow strip of land that controls the lower Congo River and is only outlet to South Atlantic Ocean; dense tropical rain forest in central river basin and eastern highlands Zaire:People Population: 44,060,636 (July 1995 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: 48% (female 10,522,368; male 10,527,451) 15-64 years: 50% (female 11,211,353; male 10,630,118) 65 years and over: 2% (female 647,307; male 522,039) (July 1995 est.) Population growth rate: 3.18% (1995 est.) Birth rate: 48.33 births/1,000 population (1995 est.) Death rate: 16.57 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.) Net migration rate: NA migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.) note: in 1994, more than one million refugees fled into Zaire to escape the fighting between the Hutus and the Tutsis in Rwanda and Burundi; a small number of these are returning to their homes in 1995 despite fear of the ongoing violence; additionally, Zaire is host to 105,000 Angolan, more than 250,000 Burundian and 100,000 Sudanese refugees; repatriation of Angolan refugees was suspended in May 1994 because of the recurrence of fighting in Angola; if present peace accords hold, repatriation of Angolans may recommence Infant mortality rate: 108.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 47.54 years male: 45.68 years female: 49.46 years (1995 est.) Total fertility rate: 6.7 children born/woman (1995 est.) Nationality: noun: Zairian(s) adjective: Zairian Ethnic divisions: over 200 African ethnic groups, the majority are Bantu; four largest tribes - Mongo, Luba, Kongo (all Bantu), and the Mangbetu-Azande (Hamitic) make up about 45% of the population Religions: Roman Catholic 50%, Protestant 20%, Kimbanguist 10%, Muslim 10%, other syncretic sects and traditional beliefs 10% Languages: French, Lingala, Swahili, Kingwana, Kikongo, Tshiluba Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.) total population: 72% male: 84% female: 61% Labor force: 15 million (25% of the labor force comprises wage earners) by occupation: agriculture 75%, industry 13%, services 12% (1985) Zaire:Government Names: conventional long form: Republic of Zaire conventional short form: Zaire local long form: Republique du Zaire local short form: Zaire former: Belgian Congo Congo/Leopoldville Congo/Kinshasa Digraph: CG Type: republic with a strong presidential system Capital: Kinshasa Administrative divisions: 10 regions (regions, singular - region) and 1 town* (ville); Bandundu, Bas-Zaire, Equateur, Haut-Zaire, Kasai-Occidental, Kasai-Oriental, Kinshasa*, Maniema, Nord-Kivu, Shaba, Sud-Kivu Independence: 30 June 1960 (from Belgium) National holiday: Anniversary of the Regime (Second Republic), 24 November (1965) Constitution: 24 June 1967, amended August 1974, revised 15 February 1978; amended April 1990; new transitional constitution promulgated in April 1994 Legal system: based on Belgian civil law system and tribal law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory Executive branch: chief of state: President Marshal MOBUTU Sese Seko Kuku Ngbendu wa Za Banga (since 24 November 1965) election last held 29 July 1984 (next to be held by 9 July 1995); results - President MOBUTU was reelected without opposition head of government: Prime Minister Leon KENGO wa Dondo (since 14 June 1994) cabinet: National Executive Council; appointed by mutual agreement of the president and the prime minister Legislative branch: unicameral parliament: a single body consisting of the High Council of the Republic and the Parliament of the Transition with membership equally divided between presidential supporters and opponents Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Cour Supreme) Political parties and leaders: sole legal party until January 1991 - Popular Movement of the Revolution (MPR); other parties include Union for Democracy and Social Progress (UDPS), Etienne TSHISEKEDI wa Mulumba; Democratic Social Christian Party (PDSC); Union of Federalists and Independent Republicans (UFERI); Unified Lumumbast Party (PALU), Antoine GIZENGA; Union of Independent Democrats (UDI), Leon KENGO wa Dondo Member of: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC, CEEAC, CEPGL, ECA, FAO, G-19, G-24, G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador TATANENE Manata chancery: 1800 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: [1] (202) 234-7690, 7691 US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: (vacant); Charge d'Affaires John M. YATES embassy: 310 Avenue des Aviateurs, Kinshasa mailing address: Unit 31550, Kinshasha; APO AE 09828 telephone: [243] (12) 21532, 21628 FAX: [243] (12) 21534 ext. 2308, 21535 ext. 2308; (88) 43805, 43467 Flag: light green with a yellow disk in the center bearing a black arm holding a red flaming torch; the flames of the torch are blowing away from the hoist side; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia Economy Overview: Zaire's economy has continued to disintegrate although Prime Minister KENGO has had some success in slowing the rate of economic decline. While meaningful economic figures are difficult to come by, Zaire's hyperinflation, chronic large government deficits, and plunging mineral production have made the country one of the world's poorest. Most formal transactions are conducted in hard currency as indigenous bank notes have lost almost all value, and a barter economy now flourishes in all but the largest cities. Most individuals and families hang on grimly through subsistence farming and petty trade. The government has not been able to meet its financial obligations to the International Monetary Fund or put in place the financial measures advocated by the IMF. Although short-term prospects for improvement are dim, improved political stability would boost Zaire's long-term potential to effectively exploit its vast wealth of mineral and agricultural resources. National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $18.8 billion (1994 est.) National product real growth rate: 4% (1994 est.) National product per capita: $440 (1994 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 40% per month (1993 est.) Unemployment rate: NA% Budget: revenues: $NA expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA Exports: $362 million (f.o.b., 1993 est.) commodities: copper, coffee, diamonds, cobalt, crude oil partners: US, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, UK, Japan, South Africa Imports: $356 million (f.o.b., 1993 est.) commodities: consumer goods, foodstuffs, mining and other machinery, transport equipment, fuels partners: South Africa, US, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, UK External debt: $9.2 billion (May 1992 est.) Industrial production: growth rate -20% (1993); accounts for 16% of GDP Electricity: capacity: 2,830,000 kW production: 6.2 billion kWh consumption per capita: 133 kWh (1993) Industries: mining, mineral processing, consumer products (including textiles, footwear, cigarettes, processed foods and beverages), cement, diamonds Agriculture: cash crops - coffee, palm oil, rubber, quinine; food crops - cassava, bananas, root crops, corn Illicit drugs: illicit producer of cannabis, mostly for domestic consumption Economic aid: recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $1.1 billion; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $6.9 billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $35 million; Communist countries (1970-89), $263 million note: except for humanitarian aid to private organizations, no US assistance has been given to Zaire since 1992 Currency: 1 zaire (Z) = 100 makuta Exchange rates: new zaires (Z) per US$1 - 3,275.71 (December 1994), 1,194.12 (1994), 2.51 (1993); zaire (Z) per US$1 - 645,549 (1992), 15,587 (1991), 719 (1990) note: on 22 October 1993 the new zaire, equal to 3,000,000 old zaires, was introduced Fiscal year: calendar year Zaire:Transportation Railroads: total: 5,138 km; note - severely reduced trackage in use because of civil strife narrow gauge: 3,987 km 1.067-m gauge (858 km electrified); 125 km 1.000-m gauge; 1,026 km 0.600-m gauge Highways: total: 146,500 km paved: 2,800 km unpaved: gravel, improved earth 46,200 km; unimproved earth 97,500 km Inland waterways: 15,000 km including the Congo, its tributaries, and unconnected lakes Pipelines: petroleum products 390 km Ports: Banana, Boma, Bukavu, Bumba, Goma, Kalemie, Kindu, Kinshasa, Kisangani, Matadi, Mbandaka Merchant marine: none Airports: total: 270 with paved runways over 3,047 m: 4 with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 15 with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 2 with paved runways under 914 m: 97 with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 22 with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 127 Zaire:Communications Telephone system: NA telephones local: NA intercity: NA barely adequate wire and microwave service in and between urban areas; 14 domestic earth stations international: 1 INTELSAT (Atlantic Ocean) earth station Radio: broadcast stations: AM 10, FM 4, shortwave 0 radios: NA Television: broadcast stations: 18 televisions: NA Zaire:Defense Forces Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, National Gendarmerie, paramilitary Civil Guard, Special Presidential Division Manpower availability: males age 15-49 9,479,245; males fit for military service 4,828,367 (1995 est.) Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $46 million, 1.5% of GDP (1990) |