zero

   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}.

[glossary]