zeta

[ zey-tuh, zee- ]

noun

1. the sixth letter of the Greek alphabet (Z, ζ).
2. the consonant sound represented by this letter.

ZETA

¹

/ ˈziːtə /

noun

1. a torus-shaped apparatus used for research in the 1950s and early 1960s on controlled thermonuclear reactions and plasma physics

Zeta

²

/ ˈziːtə /

noun

1. foll by the genitive case of a specified constellation the sixth brightest star in a constellation

   Zeta Tauri

zeta

³

/ ˈziːtə /

noun

1. the sixth letter in the Greek alphabet (Ζ, ζ), a consonant, transliterated as z

Word History and Origins

Origin of zeta¹

First recorded in 1820–30, zeta is from the Greek word zêta

Word History and Origins

Origin of zeta¹

C20: from z ( ero- ) e ( nergy ) t ( hermonuclear ) a ( pparatus )

Origin of zeta²

from Greek, of Semitic origin; compare Hebrew sādhē

Example Sentences

A special commendation goes to Saddleback, which went 0-10 last season, switched leagues, switched coaches and went 6-4 and won the Zeta League title under Rob Thompson.

From Los Angeles Times

Then last week the Mexican attorney general’s office announced that 11 former members of the notorious Zeta cartel had been convicted of murder and sentenced to 50 years in prison.

From Los Angeles Times

In 2022, Mexico’s attorney general’s office announced that 18 former members of the notorious Zeta cartel had been convicted in connection with the massacre and had received prison sentences of 13 to 58 years.

From Los Angeles Times

Among those sentenced was Salvador Alfonso Martínez Escobedo, a former regional Zeta capo who was known as “The Squirrel” — an apparent reference to his buck teeth.

From Los Angeles Times

Spurring skepticism about the news last week is the fact that no police officers were included among those convicted — despite evidence that San Fernando cops were exuberant Zeta accomplices.

From Los Angeles Times