zebra

[ zee-bruh; British also zeb-ruh ]

noun

, plural ze·bras, (especially collectively) ze·bra.

1. any of several horselike African mammals of the genus Equus, each species having a characteristic pattern of black or dark-brown stripes on a whitish background: all zebra species are threatened or endangered.
2. Also called ze·bra but·ter·fly. a tropical butterfly, Heliconius charithonius, having black wings barred with yellow.
3. (initial capital letter) a word formerly used in communications to represent the letter Z.
4. Football Slang. an official, who usually wears a black and white striped shirt.
5. British. zebra crossing.

zebra

¹

/ ˈzɛb-; ˈziːbraɪn; ˈzɛbrə; zɪˈbreɪɪk; ˈziːbrə /

noun

1. any of several mammals of the horse family ( Equidae ), such as Equus burchelli (the common zebra ), of southern and eastern Africa, having distinctive black-and-white striped hides

Zebra

²

/ ˈzɛbrə; ˈziːbrə /

noun

1. a noninterest-paying bond in which the accrued income is taxed annually rather than on redemption Compare zero

Derived Forms

• zebrine, adjective
• ˈzebra-ˌlike, adjective

Other Words From

• ze·bra·like ze·bra·ic [zi-, brey, -ik], adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of zebra¹

1590–1600; 1975–80 zebra fordef 4; < Portuguese zebra, zebro the Iberian wild ass ( Spanish cebra ), perhaps < Latin equiferus (Pliny) kind of wild horse, equivalent to equi- (combining form of equus horse) + ferus wild

Word History and Origins

Origin of zebra¹

C16: via Italian from Old Spanish: wild ass, probably from Vulgar Latin eciferus (unattested) wild horse, from Latin equiferus, from equus horse + ferus wild

Origin of zebra²

C20: from zero-coupon bond

Example Sentences

On the red carpet, she rocked a vintage Roberto Cavalli dress with a turquoise blue zebra print.

From BBC

There, zebra mussels and quagga mussels have thrived and caused a major decline in the yellow perch fishery.

From Los Angeles Times

They say this strategy has helped prevent the further spread of quagga mussels and zebra mussels beyond the lakes and waterways those species have colonized.

From Los Angeles Times

The state Department of Water Resources has since 2007 had a program in place to monitor for the presence of zebra and quagga mussels at various locations in the Delta and throughout the State Water Project.

From Los Angeles Times

“We’re asking the public to do the same thing that they do for quagga and zebra, and clean, drain and dry their watercraft and equipment every time they go to a different water body in the state,” Gonzalez said.

From Los Angeles Times