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

zoo

²

/ zuː /

noun

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

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

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)

Idioms and Phrases

see it's a zoo .

Related Words

• circus