zoon

¹

[ zoh-on ]

noun

, Biology Rare.

, plural zo·a [zoh, -, uh].

1. any of the individuals of a compound organism.
2. any individual, or the individuals collectively, produced from a single egg.
3. zooid.

-zoon

²

1. a combining form meaning “animal,” “organism” of the kind specified by the initial element, often corresponding to zoological class names ending in -zoa, with -zoon used to name a single member of such a class:

   protozoon.

-zoon

¹

combining form

1. indicating an individual animal or an independently moving entity derived from an animal

   spermatozoon

zoon

²

/ ˈzəʊɒn /

noun

1. See zooid
   a less common term for zooid

Derived Forms

• zoˈonal, adjective

Other Words From

• zo·on·al [zoh, -, uh, -nl], adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of zoon¹

First recorded in 1860–65; from New Latin zōon, from Greek zôion “animal”

Origin of zoon²

zoon

Word History and Origins

Origin of zoon¹

from Greek zōion animal

Origin of zoon²

C19: from New Latin, from Greek zōion animal; related to Greek zōē life

Example Sentences

Lay hold on the poor devil, right end foremost, zoon as I have stopped uns praching.

From Project Gutenberg

He gave Hyde both hands; he called him "mijn zoon;" he stooped, and put the little lad's arms around his neck.

From Project Gutenberg

I wudden trouble, Maaster Jasper; ship c'n nibble a lot on a dewy mornin', and we sh'll git rain zoon, I reck'n.

From Project Gutenberg

Zummat occurred betwixt us, and Phil was zoon on the ground under me.

From Project Gutenberg

Thee zhut thee eyes an' walk about a bit, an' thee'll zoon get down!

From Project Gutenberg

Words That Use -zoon

What does -zoon mean?

The combining form -zoon is used like a suffix meaning “animal” or “organism.” It is occasionally used in scientific terms, particularly to refer to a single member of classes in zoology. In zoology, class has a specific meaning that refers to taxonomy.

The form -zoon comes from Greek zôion, meaning “animal.” The word zoo also ultimately comes from this Greek root. Zoo is shortened from zoological garden.

What are variants of -zoon?

While -zoon doesn’t have any variants, it is related to the form -zoa, which is the plural form of -zoon, as in Protozoa.

When combined as a prefix, -zoon becomes zoo- or zo-, as in zooplankton or zooid. Want to know more? Read our Words That Use articles for zoo-, zo-, and -zoa.

In some instances, -zoa is made singular by adding an -n to the end of the word, rather than using the combining form -zoon, as in sporozoan.

Examples of -zoon

An example of a scientific term that features the form -zoon is ectozoon, “any animal parasite, as the louse, that lives on the surface of its host.”

The combining form ecto- means “outside” or “external,” from Greek ektós. As we have seen, -zoon means “organism.” Ectozoon literally translates to “external organism.”

What are some words that use the combining form –zoon?

• entozoon
• epizoon (using the equivalent form of -zoon in Latin)
• hematozoon
• protozoon (using the equivalent form of -zoon in Latin)
• spermatozoon (using the equivalent form of -zoon in Latin)

What are some other forms that –zoon may be commonly confused with?

• -oon
• -zygous

Break it down!

The combining form hemato- means “blood.” With this in mind, what does the scientific term hematozoon literally mean?