zebra

[ zee-bruh; British also zeb-ruh ]

/ ˈzi brə; British also ˈzɛb rə /

noun, plural ze·bras, (especially collectively) ze·bra.

any of several horselike African mammals of the genus Equus, each species having a characteristic pattern of black or dark-brown stripes on a whitish background: all zebra species are threatened or endangered.

Also called zebra butterfly. a tropical butterfly, Heliconius charithonius, having black wings barred with yellow.

(initial capital letter) a word formerly used in communications to represent the letter Z.

Football Slang. an official, who usually wears a black and white striped shirt.

zebra crossing.

Words nearby zebra

zeami, zeatin, zebec, zebedee, zeboim, zebra, zebra body, zebra crossing, zebra finch, zebra label, zebra mussel

Origin of zebra

1590–1600; 1975–80 for def 4; < Portuguese zebra, zebro the Iberian wild ass (Spanish cebra), perhaps < Latin equiferus (Pliny) kind of wild horse, equivalent to equi- (combining form of equus horse) + ferus wild

OTHER WORDS FROM zebra

ze·bra·like, ze·bra·ic

[zi-brey-ik] /zɪˈbreɪ ɪk/, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Examples from the Web for zebra

Blanco also says that, like Zebra Katz, Le1f is about to experience a crossover.
Too Gay for Hip-Hop? Le1f Takes On Traditionally Homophobic Genre|Melissa Leon|August 10, 2012|DAILY BEAST
With those legs and that zebra microdress, Michaele might be able to cobble together a second act.
Michaele Salahi, Movin’ On Up|Michelle Cottle|September 16, 2011|DAILY BEAST
When the Beltway Republican establishment does not defend her, Bannon uses video of a zebra being eaten by hungry lions.
Sarah Palin's Movie Makeover in The Undefeated|Shushannah Walshe|June 5, 2011|DAILY BEAST
I particularly liked his zebra skin rug, and the pool table laden with finger food to soak up all the alcohol.
Stalking the Literary Lion|Liesl Schillinger|March 20, 2011|DAILY BEAST

To be killed by a lion is at least a dignified death; but to be mauled by a zebra!
The Land of Footprints|Stewart Edward White
I kept looking round, in the hope of seeing the zebra trot up to us, but when the morning came our little pet had not returned.
In the Wilds of Africa|W.H.G. Kingston
Is it true that you obtain striped foals if you cross a zebra and a mare?
Plays: The Father; Countess Julie; The Outlaw; The Stronger|August Strindberg
All was meat for their pots—the zebra and giraffe, as well as the buffalo and deer.
In the Wilds of Africa|W.H.G. Kingston
The forests are full of apes and baboons, and the gnu, the zebra, and the buffalo are to be found.
South and South Central Africa|H. Frances Davidson

British Dictionary definitions for zebra (1 of 2)

zebra

/ (ˈziːbrə, ˈzɛbrə) /

noun plural -ras or -ra

any of several mammals of the horse family (Equidae), such as Equus burchelli (the common zebra), of southern and eastern Africa, having distinctive black-and-white striped hides

Derived forms of zebra

zebra-like or zebraic (zɪˈbreɪɪk), adjectivezebrine (ˈziːbraɪn, ˈzɛb-) or zebroid, adjective

Word Origin for zebra

C16: via Italian from Old Spanish: wild ass, probably from Vulgar Latin eciferus (unattested) wild horse, from Latin equiferus, from equus horse + ferus wild

British Dictionary definitions for zebra (2 of 2)

Zebra

/ (ˈziːbrə, ˈzɛbrə) /

noun finance

a noninterest-paying bond in which the accrued income is taxed annually rather than on redemptionCompare zero (def. 12)

Word Origin for Zebra

C20: from zero-coupon bond

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012