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zebra

[ zee-bruh; British also zeb-ruh ]

noun

, plural ze·bras, (especially collectively) ze·bra.
  1. 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.
  2. Also called ze·bra but·ter·fly. a tropical butterfly, Heliconius charithonius, having black wings barred with yellow.
  3. (initial capital letter) a word formerly used in communications to represent the letter Z.
  4. Football Slang. an official, who usually wears a black and white striped shirt.
  5. British. zebra crossing.


zebra

1

/ ˈzɛb-; ˈziːbraɪn; ˈzɛbrə; zɪˈbreɪɪk; ˈziːbrə /

noun

  1. any of several mammals of the horse family ( Equidae ), such as Equus burchelli (the common zebra ), of southern and eastern Africa, having distinctive black-and-white striped hides


Zebra

2

/ ˈzɛbrə; ˈziːbrə /

noun

  1. a noninterest-paying bond in which the accrued income is taxed annually rather than on redemption Compare zero

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Derived Forms

  • zebrine, adjective
  • ˈzebra-ˌlike, adjective

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Other Words From

  • ze·bra·like ze·bra·ic [zi-, brey, -ik], adjective

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Word History and Origins

Origin of zebra1

1590–1600; 1975–80 zebra fordef 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

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Word History and Origins

Origin of zebra1

C16: via Italian from Old Spanish: wild ass, probably from Vulgar Latin eciferus (unattested) wild horse, from Latin equiferus, from equus horse + ferus wild

Origin of zebra2

C20: from zero-coupon bond

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Example Sentences

Animal prints abounded: snakeskin booties, leopard-print hot pants, zebra-printed flamingo skirts.

Glo-Fish, the neon fluorescent zebra fish, were the first genetically altered organisms to be sold as pets.

They are pointy, zebra-striped Nike Cole Haans with silver buckles strapped onto her two shiny titanium carbon fiber legs.

Blanco also says that, like Zebra Katz, Le1f is about to experience a crossover.

In a really, really short zebra-striped dress and five-inch do-me pumps.

In an occasional horse the long-lost stripes of the zebra-like ancestor reappear.

No fence will keep out a herd of zebra, and in one rush a field of grain is ruined by these giant herds.

That regular variety of the climate of the zebra has never been exhibited by either of them.

That night two of us heard the first bark of the zebra, and we thought it must be the bark of distant dogs.

If the horse is the source, or principal trunk, the zebra and the ass will be collateral branches.

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Zeboimzebra crossing