zo·ol·o·gy
zoology
- pronunciation:
- zu
a
l
ji
- features:
- Word History, Word Explorer
| part of speech: |
noun |
| inflections: |
zoologies |
| definition 1: |
the science and study of animals.
She's studying zoology because she hopes to help save animal species someday. |
| definition 2: |
the animal life of a particular region.
The zoology of the Amazon is spectacular and varied. |
| definition 3: |
the characteristics of a particular animal group.
The team is studying the zoology of the orangutan. |
The word
zoology is formed from
zoion, an ancient Greek word that means "animal," and the suffix "-ology," which means "the study of."