NewstaR/OxfordDictionary · Datasets at Hugging Face

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Zarathustrian var. Of *zoroastrian.

Zeal n. Earnestness or fervour; hearty persistent endeavour. [greek zelos]

Zealot n. Extreme partisan; fanatic. zealotry n.

Zealous adj. Full of zeal; enthusiastic. zealously adv.

Zebra n. (pl. Same or -s) black-and-white striped african animal of the family including the ass and horse. [italian or portuguese from congolese]
Zebra crossing n. Striped street-crossing where pedestrians have precedence.

Zebu n. (pl. Same or -s) humped ox of asia and africa. [french]

Zed n. Letter z. [greek *zeta]

Zee n. Us letter z. [var. Of *zed]

Zeitgeist n. The spirit of the times. [german]

Zen n. Form of buddhism emphasizing meditation and intuition. [japanese, = meditation]

Zend n. An interpretation of the avesta. [persian]

Zend-avesta n. Zoroastrian sacred writings of the avesta (or text) and zend (or commentary).

Zenith n. 1 point of the heavens directly above an observer. 2 highest point (of power or prosperity etc.). [latin from arabic]

Zephyr n. Literary mild gentle breeze. [greek, = west wind]

Zeppelin n. Large dirigible german airship of the early 20th c. [count f. Von zeppelin, name of an airman]

Zero n. (pl. -s) 1 figure 0; nought; nil. 2 point on the scale of a thermometer etc. From which a positive or negative quantity is reckoned. 3 (attrib.) No, not any (zero growth). 4 (in full zero-hour) a hour at which a planned, esp. Military, operation is timed to begin. B crucial moment. 5 lowest or earliest point (down to zero; the year zero). zero in on (-oes, -oed) 1 take aim at. 2 focus one's attention on. [arabic: related to *cipher]

Zero option n. Disarmament proposal for the total removal of certain types of weapons on both sides.

Zero-rated adj. On which no vat is charged.

Zest n. 1 piquancy; stimulating flavour or quality. 2 a keen enjoyment or interest. B (often foll. By for) relish. C gusto. 3 scraping of orange or lemon peel as flavouring. zestful adj. Zestfully adv. [french]

Zeta n. Sixth letter of the greek alphabet (z, z). [greek]

Zeugma n. Figure of speech using a verb or adjective with two nouns, to one of which it is strictly applicable while the word appropriate to the other is not used (e.g. With weeping eyes and [sc. Grieving] hearts) (cf. *syllepsis). [greek, = a yoking, from zugon yoke]

Ziggurat n. Rectangular stepped tower in ancient mesopotamia, surmounted by a temple. [assyrian]

Zigzag —adj. With abrupt alternate right and left turns (zigzag line). —n. Zigzag line; thing having the form of a zigzag or having sharp turns. —adv. With a zigzag course. —v. (-gg-) move in a zigzag course. [french from german]

Zilch n. Esp. Us slang nothing. [origin uncertain]

Zillion n. Colloq. Indefinite large number. [probably after million]

Zimmer frame n. Propr. A kind of walking-frame. [zimmer, name of the maker]

Zinc n. Greyish-white metallic element used as a component of brass and in galvanizing sheet iron. [german zink]

Zing colloq. —n. Vigour, energy. —v. Move swiftly, esp. With a high-pitched ringing sound. [imitative]

Zinnia n. Garden plant with showy flowers. [zinn, name of a physician and botanist]

Zion n. 1 ancient jerusalem; its holy hill. 2 a the jewish people or religion. B the christian church. 3 the kingdom of heaven. [hebrew siyôn]

Zionism n. Movement for the re-establishment and development of a jewish nation in what is now israel. zionist n. & adj.

Zip —n. 1 light fast sound. 2 energy, vigour. 3 a (in full zip-fastener) fastening device of two flexible strips with interlocking projections, closed or opened by sliding a clip along them. B (attrib.) Having a zip-fastener (zip bag). —v. (-pp-) 1 (often foll. By up) fasten with a zip-fastener. 2 move with zip or at high speed. [imitative]

Zip code n. Us postcode. [zone improvement plan]

Zipper n. Esp. Us = *zip 3a.

Zippy adj. (-ier, -iest) colloq. Lively, speedy.

Zircon n. Zirconium silicate of which some translucent varieties are cut into gems. [german zirkon]

Zirconium n. Grey metallic element.

Zit n. Esp. Us slang pimple. [origin unknown]
Zit n. Esp. Us slang pimple. [origin unknown]

Zither n. Stringed instrument with a flat soundbox, placed horizontally and played with the fingers and a plectrum. [latin: related to *guitar]

Zloty n. (pl. Same or -s) chief monetary unit of poland. [polish]

Zn symb. Zinc.

Zodiac n. 1 belt of the heavens including all apparent positions of the sun, moon, and planets as known to ancient astronomers, and divided into twelve equal parts (signs of the zodiac). 2 diagram of these signs. zodiacal adj. [greek zoion animal]

Zombie n. 1 colloq. Person who acts mechanically or lifelessly. 2 corpse said to have been revived by witchcraft. [west african]

Zone —n. 1 area having particular features, properties, purpose, or use (danger zone; smokeless zone). 2 well-defined region of more or less beltlike form. 3 area between two concentric circles. 4 encircling band of colour etc. 5 archaic belt, girdle. —v. (-ning) 1 encircle as or with a zone. 2 arrange or distribute by zones. 3 assign as or to a particular area. zonal adj. [greek zone girdle]

Zonked adj. Slang (often foll. By out) exhausted; intoxicated. [zonk hit]

Zoo n. Zoological garden. [abbreviation]

Zoological adj. Of zoology.

Usage see note at zoology.

Zoological garden n. (also zoological gardens n.pl.) Public garden or park with a collection of animals for exhibition and study.

Zarathustrian var. Of *zoroastrian.

Zeal n. Earnestness or fervour; hearty persistent endeavour. [greek zelos]

Zealot n. Extreme partisan; fanatic. zealotry n.

Zealous adj. Full of zeal; enthusiastic. zealously adv.

Zebra n. (pl. Same or -s) black-and-white striped african animal of the family including the ass and horse. [italian or portuguese from congolese]

Zebra crossing n. Striped street-crossing where pedestrians have precedence.

Zebu n. (pl. Same or -s) humped ox of asia and africa. [french]

Zed n. Letter z. [greek *zeta]

Zee n. Us letter z. [var. Of *zed]

Zeitgeist n. The spirit of the times. [german]

Zen n. Form of buddhism emphasizing meditation and intuition. [japanese, = meditation]

Zend n. An interpretation of the avesta. [persian]

Zend-avesta n. Zoroastrian sacred writings of the avesta (or text) and zend (or commentary).

Zenith n. 1 point of the heavens directly above an observer. 2 highest point (of power or prosperity etc.). [latin from arabic]

Zephyr n. Literary mild gentle breeze. [greek, = west wind]

Zeppelin n. Large dirigible german airship of the early 20th c. [count f. Von zeppelin, name of an airman]

Zero n. (pl. -s) 1 figure 0; nought; nil. 2 point on the scale of a thermometer etc. From which a positive or negative quantity is reckoned. 3 (attrib.) No, not any (zero growth). 4 (in full zero-hour) a hour at which a planned, esp. Military, operation is timed to begin. B crucial moment. 5 lowest or earliest point (down to zero; the year zero). zero in on (-oes, -oed) 1 take aim at. 2 focus one's attention on. [arabic: related to *cipher]

Zero option n. Disarmament proposal for the total removal of certain types of weapons on both sides.

Zero-rated adj. On which no vat is charged.

Zest n. 1 piquancy; stimulating flavour or quality. 2 a keen enjoyment or interest. B (often foll. By for) relish. C gusto. 3 scraping of orange or lemon peel as flavouring. zestful adj. Zestfully adv. [french]

Zeta n. Sixth letter of the greek alphabet (z, z). [greek]

Zeugma n. Figure of speech using a verb or adjective with two nouns, to one of which it is strictly applicable while the word appropriate to the other is not used (e.g. With weeping eyes and [sc. Grieving] hearts) (cf. *syllepsis). [greek, = a yoking, from zugon yoke]

Ziggurat n. Rectangular stepped tower in ancient mesopotamia, surmounted by a temple. [assyrian]

Zigzag —adj. With abrupt alternate right and left turns (zigzag line). —n. Zigzag line; thing having the form of a zigzag or having sharp turns. —adv. With a zigzag course. —v. (-gg-) move in a zigzag course. [french from german]

Zilch n. Esp. Us slang nothing. [origin uncertain]

Zillion n. Colloq. Indefinite large number. [probably after million]

Zimmer frame n. Propr. A kind of walking-frame. [zimmer, name of the maker]

Zinc n. Greyish-white metallic element used as a component of brass and in galvanizing sheet iron. [german zink]

Zing colloq. —n. Vigour, energy. —v. Move swiftly, esp. With a high-pitched ringing sound. [imitative]

Zinnia n. Garden plant with showy flowers. [zinn, name of a physician and botanist]

Zion n. 1 ancient jerusalem; its holy hill. 2 a the jewish people or religion. B the christian church. 3 the kingdom of heaven. [hebrew siyôn]

Zionism n. Movement for the re-establishment and development of a jewish nation in what is now israel. zionist n. & adj.

Zip —n. 1 light fast sound. 2 energy, vigour. 3 a (in full zip-fastener) fastening device of two flexible strips with interlocking projections, closed or opened by sliding a clip along them. B (attrib.) Having a zip-fastener (zip bag). —v. (-pp-) 1 (often foll. By up) fasten with a zip-fastener. 2 move with zip or at high speed. [imitative]

Zip code n. Us postcode. [zone improvement plan]

Zipper n. Esp. Us = *zip 3a.

Zippy adj. (-ier, -iest) colloq. Lively, speedy.

Zircon n. Zirconium silicate of which some translucent varieties are cut into gems. [german zirkon]

Zirconium n. Grey metallic element.

Zit n. Esp. Us slang pimple. [origin unknown]

Zither n. Stringed instrument with a flat soundbox, placed horizontally and played with the fingers and a plectrum. [latin: related to *guitar]

Zloty n. (pl. Same or -s) chief monetary unit of poland. [polish]

Zn symb. Zinc.

Zodiac n. 1 belt of the heavens including all apparent positions of the sun, moon, and planets as known to ancient astronomers, and divided into twelve equal parts (signs of the zodiac). 2 diagram of these signs. zodiacal adj. [greek zoion animal]

Zombie n. 1 colloq. Person who acts mechanically or lifelessly. 2 corpse said to have been revived by witchcraft. [west african]

Zone —n. 1 area having particular features, properties, purpose, or use (danger zone; smokeless zone). 2 well-defined region of more or less beltlike form. 3 area between two concentric circles. 4 encircling band of colour etc. 5 archaic belt, girdle. —v. (-ning) 1 encircle as or with a zone. 2 arrange or distribute by zones. 3 assign as or to a particular area. zonal adj. [greek zone girdle]

Zonked adj. Slang (often foll. By out) exhausted; intoxicated. [zonk hit]

Zoo n. Zoological garden. [abbreviation]

Zoological adj. Of zoology.

Usage see note at zoology.

Zoological garden n. (also zoological gardens n.pl.) Public garden or park with a collection of animals for exhibition and study.