definitions

zoon

[ zoh-on ]
/ ˈzoʊ ɒn /
|

noun, plural zo·a [zoh-uh] /ˈzoʊ ə/. Biology Rare.

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

RELATED CONTENT

They Call It Puppy Love And Other Animal-inspired PhrasesWe often attribute emotions and other human characteristics to animals. This is called anthropomorphism . Similarly, we also describe people using animal characteristics. You might, for example, say my teenage son “eats like a horse,” meaning he’s a growing boy and consumes a lot of food. This is called zoomorphism . Zoomorphism also includes assigning animal-like qualities to gods and inanimate objects. The term comes from …
READ MORE

Nearby words

zoom shot, zoomastigophorea, zoometry, zoomorphic, zoomorphism, zoon, zoonosis, zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis, zoonotic potential, zooparasite, zoophagous

Origin of zoon

1860–65; < New Latin zōon < Greek zôion animal

Related forms

zo·on·al [zoh-uh-nl] /ˈzoʊ ə nl/, adjective

Definition for zoon (2 of 2)

-zoon

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.

Origin of -zoon

see origin at zoon
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for zoon

British Dictionary definitions for zoon (1 of 2)

zoon

/ (ˈzəʊɒn) /

noun plural zoa (ˈzəʊə) or zoons

a less common term for zooid (def. 1)

Derived Forms

zoonal, adjective

Word Origin for zoon

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

British Dictionary definitions for zoon (2 of 2)

-zoon

n combining form

indicating an individual animal or an independently moving entity derived from an animalspermatozoon

Word Origin for -zoon

from Greek zōion animal
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

Medicine definitions for zoon

-zoon

suff.

Animal; independently moving organic unit:spermatozoon.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.