zoomorphic

American  

[zoh-uh-mawr-fik] / ˌzoʊ əˈmɔr fɪk /

adjective

1. of or relating to a deity or other being conceived of as having the form of an animal.

2. characterized by a highly stylized or conventionalized representation of animal forms.

3. representing or using animal forms.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• zoomorph
  noun

Etymology

Origin of zoomorphic

First recorded in 1870–75; zoo- + -morphic

Explanation

Anything that's zoomorphic has the form of an animal. If your cookie jar is shaped like a bear, with a removable head as its lid, you can describe it as zoomorphic. Zoomorphic is derived from Greek roots, zoion, "an animal," and morphē, "form." Things that take the form of animals can include art, everyday objects, people, and even gods in some religions. Think of the zoomorphic Hindu god Ganesh, with his elephant's head and human body. Or your grandparents' zoomorphic front door knocker, shaped like a lobster. And you might decide on a zoomorphic costume for Halloween — a cat or a rabbit — instead of dressing like a superhero.

Example Sentences

A Unesco world heritage site since 1994, the Nazca Lines, which are made up of hundreds of geometric and zoomorphic images, were created by removing rocks and earth to reveal the contrasting materials below.

From The Guardian • Oct. 18, 2020

“The oldest surviving example of zoomorphic architecture on Earth,” boasted her human handler and lifelong cheerleader, Richard Helfant.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 27, 2020

Stylings included mythological and zoomorphic motifs — a delightful eruption of irregularity.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 8, 2018

I’m staring at a creature that shouldn’t exist, a zoomorphic mashup of anatomical incongruities.

From Time • Jun. 1, 2016

Briefly, the miraculous and supernatural endowments of the gods of MYTH, whether these gods be zoomorphic or anthropomorphic, are exactly the magical properties with which the medicine-man is credited by his tribe.

From Myth, Ritual and Religion — Volume 1 by Lang, Andrew