zoo
zoo
Pronunciation
zoo
/zuː/
zuː: /z/ (voiced alveolar fricative), /uː/ (close back rounded vowel)
Word Form Variations
Singular: zoo
Plural: zoos
Possessive (singular): zoo's
Possessive (plural): zoos'
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
An establishment, often open to the public, where a diverse collection of live animals, typically wild ones, are housed within enclosures for the purposes of exhibition, conservation, research, and sometimes breeding.
Synonyms: menagerie, animal park, wildlife park, zoological garden
Antonyms: wilderness (in the context of free-roaming animals), natural habitat
Examples of Use
Books:
"My father took me to the zoo every Sunday when I was a child, and I always loved seeing the elephants." (From Life of Pi by Yann Martel, September 2001)
"The conservation efforts at the local zoo have led to a significant increase in the endangered species' population." (From The Zookeeper's Wife by Diane Ackerman, September 2007)
Newspapers:
"The National Zoo announced the birth of a new giant panda cub yesterday, drawing excitement from visitors and researchers alike." (The Washington Post, August 2024)
"Protests erupted outside the city zoo over concerns about animal welfare conditions." (The Guardian, April 2025)
Online Publications:
"Explore the virtual zoo experience from your home, offering 360-degree views of your favorite animals." (National Geographic online, March 2025)
"Scientists at the San Diego Zoo are using cutting-edge technology to study rare animal behaviors." (Smithsonian Magazine online, January 2025)
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
"We're going to the zoo tomorrow!" (Dialogue from the children's animated series Peppa Pig, aired November 2004)
"Welcome to the urban zoo where the concrete jungle meets wild ambition." (Lyrics from the song "Concrete Jungle" by Bob Marley, released February 1973)
A popular mobile game allows players to build and manage their own virtual zoo, attracting millions of users worldwide. (Example of a mobile game like Zoo Tycoon, released November 2001)
A documentary series on Netflix features behind-the-scenes access to large zoo operations, highlighting the daily lives of zookeepers and veterinarians. (Example of a documentary series like Our Zoo, aired September 2014)
General Public Discourse:
"Let's meet up at the zoo entrance around noon." (Common conversational usage)
"It's a complete zoo in here with all these kids running around!" (Figurative usage, meaning a chaotic or crowded place)
"My kids absolutely loved the tiger exhibit at the zoo last weekend." (Casual conversation among parents)
"The company picnic felt like a zoo with everyone trying to get a hot dog at the same time." (Figurative usage, describing a disorderly situation)
10 Quotes Using Zoo
"The most beautiful thing a man can ever see is the smile of a child at the zoo." (Unknown)
"A zoo is a good place to make a living, but a terrible place to live." (Unknown)
"I always wanted to work in a zoo. I was a big admirer of animals." (Jacques Perrin)
"Going to the zoo is a lot like going to a party where all the guests are wearing the same outfit." (Unknown)
"Life is a zoo in a jungle." (Peter De Vries)
"The whole world is a zoo, and we are all just monkeys in cages." (Unknown)
"Sometimes I feel like I live in a zoo, with everyone staring at me." (Britney Spears)
"My idea of a great day is to go to the zoo, see the animals, and then go home and read a book about them." (Unknown)
"A zoo is a place where you can see all the animals you never knew existed." (Unknown)
"The public is a great zoo." (Pierre Auguste Renoir)
Etymology
The word "zoo" is actually a shortened form of "zoological garden."
Here's a breakdown:
"Zoo" (the short form): This familiar word first started being used in the mid-19th century, specifically around 1867. It became popular in everyday language as a casual and quicker way to refer to these places.
"Zoological": This part comes from the Greek word "zōion" (meaning "animal" or "living being") combined with "-logia" (meaning "the study of"). So, "zoological" essentially means "related to the study of animals."
"Garden": This simply refers to a cultivated piece of ground, often for public enjoyment.
So, when you put it all together, a "zoological garden" was originally a "garden for the study of animals." The first well-known "zoological garden" in the modern sense was the London Zoo, which opened in 1828 as a scientific institution, though it later opened to the public. The shortened "zoo" just caught on because it's much easier to say!
Phrases + Idioms Containing Zoo
A regular zoo: Meaning a chaotic, disorderly, or very crowded place.
It's a zoo in here: Used to describe a place that is extremely busy, noisy, or disorganized.
Run a zoo: To manage a chaotic or unruly situation, often with children or a large group of people.
The whole zoo came out: Referring to a large group of people, often implying a boisterous or unmanageable crowd.
Wild as a zoo animal: Someone who is extremely unruly, untamed, or lacking control.
Concrete jungle (where the animals are us): An idiom that uses a synonym for "zoo" (jungle, implying wildness) to describe a bustling city, with people being the "animals."
Animal house: Often used informally to describe a very disorderly place, akin to a chaotic student dormitory, drawing a parallel to the wildness of animals.
A menagerie of characters: Describing a diverse and often eccentric group of people, using a synonym for a collection of animals.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of zoo from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
