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View synonyms for zoo

zoo

1

[ zoo ]

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

    zoometry; zooplankton.

zoo-

1

combining_form

  1. indicating animals

    zooplankton

“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


zoo

2

/ zuː /

noun

  1. a place where live animals are kept, studied, bred, and exhibited to the public Formal termzoological garden
“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
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Word History and Origins

Origin of zoo1

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

Origin of zoo2

Combining form representing Greek zôion animal
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Word History and Origins

Origin of zoo1

from Greek zōion animal

Origin of zoo2

C19: shortened from zoological gardens (originally applied to those in London)
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Idioms and Phrases

see it's a zoo .
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Example Sentences

The zoo is now joining with animal welfare charities and other campaigners in calling for tighter restrictions on fireworks.

From BBC

Parks and zoos have also been shut until 17 November.

From BBC

As the sun set for the zoo animals and they headed to bed for the night, we could still provide calming sights of animals for people to tune into.

From Salon

Earlier this year, a Japanese macaque named Honshu escaped from a zoo in Scotland.

From BBC

He added that the zoo's pygmy hippo house would now be closed for a month due to the first 30 days after birth being "critical" for Haggis' development.

From BBC

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

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