ENGLISH
REFERENCE

zoo

n. countable
A1 Beginner US //ˈzu// UK //zˈuː// zoo Informal Slang

n. a place where many kinds of wild animals are kept so that people can look at them. You visit this place to learn about nature and see animals you don't usually see at home.

n. a facility in which animals are confined within enclosures, displayed to the public, and in which they may also breed. Often used figuratively to describe a place or situation marked by chaos or lack of control.


SIMPLE

We saw lions and tigers at the zoo yesterday.

CONTEXTUAL

The local zoo is famous for its successful panda breeding program and large open-air enclosures.

Synonyms
Origin

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

Usage

Commonly used in the singular with 'a' to describe a chaotic environment ('This office is a zoo').

© 2026 English Reference