zoon

¹ American  

[zoh-on] / ˈzoʊ ɒn /

noun

Biology Rare.

plural

zoa

1. any of the individuals of a compound organism.

2. any individual, or the individuals collectively, produced from a single egg.

3. zooid.

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-zoon ² American  

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.

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-zoon ¹ British  

combining form

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

   spermatozoon

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zoon ² British  

/ ˈzəʊɒn /

noun

1. a less common term for zooid

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Usage

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.

Other Word Forms

• zoonal adjective

Etymology

Origin of zoon¹

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

Origin of -zoon²

zoon

Example Sentences

Cameras on the arms let the surgeons see what is happening, and they can zoon in and magnify the area being operated on.

From BBC • Mar. 13, 2022

When Aristotle labelled our species a zoon politikon, or “political animal”, he linked this idea to our mental capacities.

From The Guardian • Mar. 12, 2019

The Agriculture Department shut down the zoon in November after multiple complaints about animals being mistreated and kept in poor conditions.

From Washington Times • Mar. 16, 2017

The pattering hail of slugs continued to zoon from the sand-hills, bombarding the vast-spread wings and immense fuselage of Nissr.

From The Flying Legion by England, George Allan

"I knowd as thaay wur yourn zoon as ever I sot eyes on 'em," old Simon went on.

From Tom Brown at Oxford by Hughes, Thomas