zoo

zoo · noun

imported

Definitions

noun

  1. 1.

    A place where wild animals are kept for public display, conservation, and study.

  2. 2.

    [informal]A chaotic or crowded situation.

Forms

plural: zoos

Related words

See also: animal, aquarium, safari, wildlife
Synonyms: menagerie, zoological garden

Etymology

Short for zoological garden, from Greek zoion ("animal") + -logical ("study of"). The London Zoological Gardens opened in 1828, and zoo became common shorthand.