Select a letter for some words
Zabian
See .
Zaerthe
Same as .
Zaffer
A pigment obtained, usually by roasting cobalt glance with sand or quartz, as a dark earthy powder. It consists of crude cobalt oxide, or of an impure cobalt arseniate. It is used in porcelain painting, and in enameling pottery, to produce a blue color, and is often confounded with smalt, from which, however, it is distinct, as it contains no potash. The name is often loosely applied to mixtures of zaffer proper with silica, or oxides of iron, manganese, etc.
Zaimet
A district from which a Zaim draws his revenue.
Zain
A horse of a dark color, neither gray nor white, and having no spots.
Zamite
A fossil cycad of the genus .
Zantiot
A native or inhabitant of Zante, one of the Ionian Islands.
Zanyism
State or character of a zany; buffoonery.
Zapatera
A cured olive which has spoiled or is on the verge of decomposition; loosely, an olive defective because of bruises, wormholes, or the like.
Zaptiah
A Turkish policeman.
Zaratite
A hydrous carbonate of nickel occurring as an emerald-green incrustation on chromite; -- called also .
Zarf
A metallic cuplike stand used for holding a finjan.
Zastrugi
Grooves or furrows formed in snow by the action of the wind, and running parallel with the direction of the wind. This formation results from the erosion of transverse waves previously formed.
Zax
A tool for trimming and puncturing roofing slates.
Zealant
One who is zealous; a zealot; an enthusiast.
Zealotical
Like, or suitable to, a zealot; ardently zealous.
Zealotry
The character and behavior of a zealot; excess of zeal; fanatical devotion to a cause.
Zebrinny
A cross between a male horse and a female zebra.
Zechstein
The upper division of the Permian (Dyas) of Europe. The prevailing rock is a magnesian limestone.
Zehner
An Austrian silver coin equal to ten kreutzers, or about five cents.
Zemni
The blind mole rat (), native of Eastern Europe and Asia. Its eyes and ears are rudimentary, and its fur is soft and brownish, more or less tinged with gray. It constructs extensive burrows.
Zemstvo
In Russia, an elective local district and provincial administrative assembly. Originally it was composed of representatives elected by the peasantry, the householders of the towns, and the landed proprietors. In the reign of Alexander III. the power of the noble landowners was increased, the peasants allowed only to elect candidates from whom the governor of the province nominated the deputy, and all acts of the zemstvo subjected to the approval of the governor. Theoretically the zemstvo has large powers relating to taxation, education, public health, etc., but practically these powers are in most cases limited to the adjustment of the state taxation.
Zendik
An atheist or unbeliever; -- name given in the East to those charged with disbelief of any revealed religion, or accused of magical heresies.
Zenik
See .
Zeolitiform
Having the form of a zeolite.
Zephyr
The west wind; poetically, any soft, gentle breeze.
Zequin
See .
Zerda
The fennec.
Zetetic
A seeker; -- a name adopted by some of the Pyrrhonists.
Zeuglodon
A genus of extinct Eocene whales, remains of which have been found in the Gulf States. The species had very long and slender bodies and broad serrated teeth. See .
Zeugma
A figure by which an adjective or verb, which agrees with a nearer word, is, by way of supplement, referred also to another more remote; .
Zeus
The chief deity of the Greeks, and ruler of the upper world (cf. ). He was identified with .
Zeuzerian
Any one of a group of bombycid moths of which the genus is the type. Some of these moths are of large size. The goat moth is an example.
Zeylanite
See .
Zinc
To coat with zinc; to galvanize.
Zincane
Zinc chloride.
Zinciferous
Containing or affording zinc.
Zincite
Native zinc oxide; a brittle, translucent mineral, of an orange-red color; -- called also , and .
Zincky
Pertaining to zinc, or having its appearance.
Zincoid
Pertaining to, or resembling, zinc; -- said of the electricity of the zincous plate in connection with a copper plate in a voltaic circle; also, designating the positive pole.
Zingaro
A gypsy.
Zingel
A small, edible, freshwater European perch (), having a round, elongated body and prominent snout.
Zink
See .
Zinnia
Any plant of the composite genus , Mexican herbs with opposite leaves and large gay-colored blossoms. is the commonest species in cultivation.
zip code
any one of a set of numbers assigned by the United States Postal Service to designate a particular postal delivery area. One or more are assigned to each post office. The numbers initially had five digits (the ), indicating state and post office. Later, four more optional digits were added (the ) indicating the box number or delivery route. The full set of nine digits is also referred to as . The code is appended in an address to the line bearing the city and state names, as in Plainfield, NJ 07062.
Zirco-
A combining form (also used adjectively) designating as an element of certain double compounds; zircono-; as in fluoric acid, sodium fluoride.
Zittern
See .
Zoanthus
A genus of Actinaria, including numerous species, found mostly in tropical seas. The zooids or polyps resemble small, elongated actinias united together at their bases by fleshy stolons, and thus forming extensive groups. The tentacles are small and bright colored.
Zoetrope
An optical toy, in which figures made to revolve on the inside of a cylinder, and viewed through slits in its circumference, appear like a single figure passing through a series of natural motions as if animated or mechanically moved.
Zoic
Of or pertaining to animals, or animal life.
Zoilism
Resemblance to Zoilus in style or manner; carping criticism; detraction.
Zoism
Reverence for animal life or belief in animal powers and influences, as among savages.
Zomboruk
See .
Zonar
A belt or girdle which the Christians and Jews of the Levant were obliged to wear to distinguish them from Mohammedans.
Zone
A girdle; a cincture.
Zonulet
A zonule.
Zochemy
Animal chemistry; zochemistry.
Zochlorella
One of the small green granulelike bodies found in the interior of certain stentors, hydras, and other invertebrates.
Zocyst
A cyst formed by certain Protozoa and unicellular plants which the contents divide into a large number of granules, each of which becomes a germ.
Zocium
One of the cells or tubes which inclose the feeling zooids of Bryozoa. See of .
Zogenic
Of or pertaining to zogeny, animal production.
Zogeographical
Of or pertaining to zography.
Zographist
A zographer.
Zooid
Pertaining to, or resembling, an animal.
Zolatry
The worship of animals.
Zologer
A zologist.
Zological
Of or pertaining to zology, or the science of animals.
Zologist
One who is well versed in zology.
Zonite
One of the segments of the body of an articulate animal.
Zonule
Same as .
Zophorous
The part between the architrave and cornice; the frieze; -- so called from the figures of animals carved upon it.
Zophytoid
Pertaining to, or resembling, a zophyte.
Zosperm
One of the spermatic particles; spermatozoid.
Zotic
Containing the remains of organized bodies; -- said of rock or soil.
Zotomical
Of or pertaining to zotomy.
Zotomy
The dissection or the anatomy of animals; -- distinguished from .
Zoozoo
The wood pigeon.
Zoril
Same as .
Zoroastrianism
The religious system of Zoroaster, the legislator and prophet of the ancient Persians, which was the national faith of Persia; mazdeism. The system presupposes a good spirit (Ormuzd) and an opposing evil spirit (Ahriman). Cf. , under , and .
Zoster
Shingles.
Zouave
One of an active and hardy body of soldiers in the French service, originally Arabs, but now composed of Frenchmen who wear the Arab dress.
Zounds
An exclamation formerly used as an oath, and an expression of anger or wonder.
Zuche
A stump of a tree.
Zuchetto
A skullcap covering the tonsure, worn under the berretta. The pope's is white; a cardinal's red; a bishop's purple; a priest's black.
Zuisin
The American widgeon.
Zumbooruk
A small cannon supported by a swiveled rest on the back of a camel, whence it is fired, -- used in the East.
Zwanziger
An Austrian silver coin equivalent to 20 kreutzers, or about 10 cents.
Zygapophysis
One of the articular processes of a vertebra, of which there are usually four, two anterior and two posterior. See under .
Zygobranchia
A division of marine gastropods in which the gills are developed on both sides of the body and the renal organs are also paired. The abalone () and the keyhole limpet () are examples.
Zygodactyl
The zygodactylous birds. In a restricted sense applied to a division of birds which includes the barbets, toucans, honey guides, and other related birds.
Zygodactyli
Same as .
Zygosperm
A spore formed by the union of the contents of two similar cells, either of the same or of distinct individual plants. Zygosperms are found in certain orders of alg and fungi.
Zymic
Pertaining to, or produced by, fermentation; -- formerly, by confusion, used to designate lactic acid.
Zymogene
One of a physiological group of globular bacteria which produces fermentations of diverse nature; -- distinguished from .
Zymome
A glutinous substance, insoluble in alcohol, resembling legumin; -- now called , , or .