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chiffre

figure

noun SHEEFR Less Common

Origin: Arabic sifr, 'zero'

Also means

digit

Usage Note

Chiffre means a numeral or digit (e.g. le chiffre 7) and, in business, a turnover figure (chiffre d'affaires = 'revenue/turnover'). It is more specific than nombre ('number' in the abstract). Chiffrer means 'to put a figure on' or 'to encrypt'; chiffrement is the modern word for data encryption.

Examples

"Le chiffre d'affaires a doublé."

Natural Translation

The turnover doubled.

Literal Translation

The figure of business doubled.

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