zebra
Americannoun
plural
zebras,plural
zebra-
any of several horselike African mammals of the genus Equus, each species having a characteristic pattern of black or dark-brown stripes on a whitish background: all zebra species are threatened or endangered.
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Also called zebra butterfly. a tropical butterfly, Heliconius charithonius, having black wings barred with yellow.
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(initial capital letter) a word formerly used in communications to represent the letter Z.
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Football Slang. an official, who usually wears a black and white striped shirt.
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British. zebra crossing.
noun
noun
Other Word Forms
- zebra-like adjective
- zebraic adjective
- zebralike adjective
- zebrine adjective
Etymology
Origin of zebra
1590–1600; 1975–80 zebra for def. 4; < Portuguese zebra, zebro the Iberian wild ass ( Spanish cebra ), perhaps < Latin equiferus (Pliny) kind of wild horse, equivalent to equi- (combining form of equus horse) + ferus wild
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
In contrast, more distant relatives such as donkeys and zebras appear to lack the high frequency component.
From Science Daily
Three zebras stood together in one, and the other held four ostriches.
From Literature
Then two zebra doves land on a low branch.
From Literature
“Elephants and zebra don’t hate each other,” she said.
From Literature
Then “Way too harsh,” said the zebra, who Zeke didn’t really know either.
From Literature
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
