zoo

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   A place where wild animals are kept so that people can see them.

   The children like to visit the zoo, especially the monkey cage.

2. 2
   noun

   A place that is wild, crowded, or chaotic.

   The shopping centre was a zoo the week before Christmas.

Appears in

Simplified etymology

Zoo dates from the mid-19th century and is associated with the Zoological Gardens in Regent’s Park, London, established in 1828 and opened to the public in 1847. Zoological ultimately derives from Greek zōion, meaning “animal.”

Clipping of zoological garden or zoological park, now the usual form. See zoology. Sense 5 is a clipping of zoophile or zoophilia.

Topics

External links

• Google Images
• Cambridge Dictionary
• Wiktionary