WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
zoo /zu/USA pronunciation
n. [countable], pl. zoos.
-zoo-, root.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- Also called ˌzo•oˈlog•i•cal ˈgar•den. a parklike area in which live animals are kept in cages or large, closed-off areas so that the public can view them.
- Informal Termsa place, activity, or group marked by chaos or uncontrolled behavior:Her classroom had become a zoo.
-zoo-, root.
- -zoo- comes from Greek, where it has the meaning "animal;
living being.'' This meaning is found in such words as: zoo, zoology .
zoo (zo̅o̅),USA pronunciation
n., pl. zoos.
zoo-,
- Also called zoological garden. a parklike area in which live animals are kept in cages or large enclosures for public exhibition.
- Informal Termsa place, activity, or group marked by chaos or unrestrained behavior.
- first two syllables of zoological garden taken as one syllable 1840–50
zoo-,
- a combining form meaning "living being,'' "animal,'' used in the formation of compound words:zoometry; zooplankton.
- combining form representing Greek zôion animal
'-zoo-' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
keeper
- scenic railway
- Snowdon
- so
- treat
- zo-
- zoo
- zoo-
- zoological garden
- animal park
- clamor
- drive-through
- insectarium
- kraal
- miniature
- moat
- petting zoo
- proconsul
- quick
- T'ai Tsu
- walk-through
- zoochemistry
- zoochore
- zooflagellate
- zoogamete
- zoogenic
- zoogeography
- zooglea
- zoografting
- zoography
- zookeeper
- zoolatry
- zoology
- zoometry
- zoomorphic
- zoonosis
- zooparasite
- zoophagous
- zoophilia
- zoophilous
- zoophobia
- zoophyte
- zooplankton
- zooplasty
- zoopraxiscope
- zoosemiotics
- zoosperm
- zoosporangium
- zoospore
- zootomy