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 .

Example Sentences

In the early 1900s, the conservationist and anthropologist Madison Grant, who helped establish Glacier National Park and the Bronx Zoo, wrote pseudoscientific tomes about the coming extinction of white people.

From Salon

Edinburgh Zoo's baby red panda has died from stress caused by fireworks on Bonfire Night, according to veterinary experts.

From BBC

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

From BBC

New powers banning the use of fireworks came into force in four areas of Edinburgh between 1-10 November - though this did not include the area around the zoo.

From BBC

Roxie was born in July, taking the number of captive red pandas at Edinburgh Zoo to four, and a fifth arrived in Scotland from Whipsnade zoo in October.

From BBC

Related Words

• circus