zoo

¹ American  

[zoo] / zu /

noun

plural

zoos

1. Also called zoological garden.  a parklike area in which live animals are kept in cages or large enclosures for public exhibition.

2. Informal. a place, activity, or group marked by chaos or unrestrained behavior.

---

zoo- ² American  

1. a combining form meaning “living being,” “animal,” used in the formation of compound words.

   zoometry; zooplankton.

---

zoo- ¹ British  

combining form

1. indicating animals

   zooplankton

---

zoo ² British  

/ zuː /

noun

1. Formal term: zoological garden.  a place where live animals are kept, studied, bred, and exhibited to the public

---

zoo Idioms  

1. see it's a zoo.

---

Usage

What does zoo- mean? The combining form zoo- is used like a prefix meaning “living being” or "animal." It is often used in scientific terms, especially in biology.The form zoo- comes from Greek zôion, meaning “animal.”What are variants of zoo-?When combined with words or word elements that begin with a vowel, zoo- becomes zo-, as in zooid.When combined as a suffix, zoo- becomes -zoa or -zoon, as in protozoa or ectozoon. Want to know more? Read our Words That Use articles for zo-, -zoa, and -zoon.

Etymology

Origin of zoo¹

First recorded in 1840–50; first two syllables of zoological garden taken as one syllable

Origin of zoo-²

Combining form representing Greek zôion animal

Example Sentences

It later submitted updated plans in 2020, insisting the proposal - titled Lomond Banks -would be a "major step away" from its other resorts, which include a popular theme park and zoo in Yorkshire.

From BBC

Raw chicken was also suspected as the cause of a major bird flu outbreak at a tiger zoo in Chonburi province in 2004.

From BBC

"They both have been born at our zoo, so they have been in training their whole life," he said.

From BBC

He tells me the creation of the AI water park, zoo and aquarium in Croydon was "just part of the progression of things getting more and more funny or absurd".

From BBC

Dozens of fans flocked to a Japanese zoo on Friday to catch a glimpse of a baby macaque who shot to social media stardom months after being abandoned by his mother.

From Barron's

Related Words

• circus