Select a letter for some words
Zaerthe
Same as .
Zain
A horse of a dark color, neither gray nor white, and having no spots.
Zalambdodont
Of or pertaining to a tribe () of Insectivora in which the molar teeth have but one V-shaped ridge.
Zamia
A genus of cycadaceous plants, having the appearance of low palms, but with exogenous wood. See , and of .
Zante
See .
Zantewood
A yellow dyewood; fustet; -- called also , and . See , and the Note under .
Zany
A merry-andrew; a buffoon.
Zany
To mimic.
zap
to shoot, destroy, or inactivate; .
Zapas
See , above.
Zapotilla
See .
Zareba
An improvised stockade; especially, one made of thorn bushes, etc.
Zrthe
A European bream ().
Zayat
A public shed, or portico, for travelers, worshipers, etc.
Zea
A genus of large grasses of which the Indian corn () is the only species known. Its origin is not yet ascertained. See .
Zeal
To be zealous.
Zealant
One who is zealous; a zealot; an enthusiast.
Zealotry
The character and behavior of a zealot; excess of zeal; fanatical devotion to a cause.
Zebra
Any member of three species of African wild horses remarkable for having the body white or yellowish white, and conspicuously marked with dark brown or brackish bands.
Zebrine
Pertaining to, or resembling, the zebra.
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.
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.
Zend
Properly, the translation and exposition in the Huzvacirc;resh, or literary Pehlevi, language, of the Avesta, the Zoroastrian sacred writings; as commonly used, the language (an ancient Persian dialect) in which the Avesta is written.
Zend-Avesta
The sacred writings of the ancient Persian religion, attributed to Zoroaster, but chiefly of a later date.
Zendik
An atheist or unbeliever; -- name given in the East to those charged with disbelief of any revealed religion, or accused of magical heresies.
Zenick
A South African burrowing mammal (), allied to the civets. It is grayish brown, with yellowish transverse stripes on the back. Called also .
Zeolitic
Of or pertaining to a zeolite; consisting of, or resembling, a zeolite.
Zeolitiform
Having the form of a zeolite.
Zephyr
The west wind; poetically, any soft, gentle breeze.
Zephyrus
The west wind, or zephyr; -- usually personified, and made the most mild and gentle of all the sylvan deities.
Zeppelin
A dirigible balloon of the rigid type, consisting of a cylindrical trussed and covered frame supported by internal gas cells, and provided with means of propulsion and control. It was first successfully used by .
Zetetic
Seeking; proceeding by inquiry.
Zetetics
A branch of algebra which relates to the direct search for unknown quantities.
Zeuglodont
Any species of Zeuglodonta.
Zeugmatic
Of or pertaining to zeugma; characterized by zeugma.
Zigzaggy
Having sharp turns.
Ziment-water
A kind of water found in copper mines; water impregnated with copper.
Zimocca
A sponge () of flat form and fine quality, from the Adriatic, about the Greek islands, and the coast of Barbary.
Zincane
Zinc chloride.
Zincification
The act or process of applying zinc; the condition of being zincified, or covered with zinc; galvanization.
Zincite
Native zinc oxide; a brittle, translucent mineral, of an orange-red color; -- called also , and .
Zincky
Pertaining to zinc, or having its appearance.
Zincograph
A zinc plate prepared for printing by zincography; also, a print from such a plate.
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.
Zincous
Of, pertaining to, or containing, zinc; zincic; .
Zingiberaceous
Of or pertaining to ginger, or to a tribe () of endogenous plants of the order . See .
Zink
See .
Zinkenite
A steel-gray metallic mineral, a sulphide of antimony and lead.
Zinky
See .
Zinnwaldite
A kind of mica containing lithium, often associated with tin ore.
zip + 4
a full nine-digit . See .
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.
zip-code
to affix a to (an address or a letter).
Zirco-
A combining form (also used adjectively) designating as an element of certain double compounds; zircono-; as in fluoric acid, sodium fluoride.
Zircofluoride
A double fluoride of zirconium and hydrogen, or some other positive element or radical; .
Zirconic
Pertaining to, containing, or resembling, zirconium;
Zirconium
A rare element of the carbon-silicon group, intermediate between the metals and nonmetals, obtained from the mineral zircon as a dark sooty powder, or as a gray metallic crystalline substance. Symbol Zr. Atomic weight, 90.4.
Zizania
A genus of grasses including Indian rice. See , under .
Zizel
The suslik.
Zoantharia
Same as .
Zoantharian
Of or pertaining to the Zoantharia.
Zoanthoid
Of or pertaining to the Zoanthacea.
Zodiacal
Of or pertaining to the zodiac; situated within the zodiac; .
Zoilism
Resemblance to Zoilus in style or manner; carping criticism; detraction.
Zokor
An Asiatic burrowing rodent () resembling the mole rat. It is native of the Altai Mountains.
Zollverein
Literally, a customs union; specifically, applied to the several customs unions successively formed under the leadership of Prussia among certain German states for establishing liberty of commerce among themselves and common tariff on imports, exports, and transit.
Zonule
A little zone, or girdle.
Zo-
A combining form from Gr. an , as in genic, logy, etc.
Zogeography
The study or description of the geographical distribution of animals.
Zogla
A colony or mass of bacteria imbedded in a viscous gelatinous substance. The zogla is characteristic of a transitory stage through which rapidly multiplying bacteria pass in the course of their evolution. Also used adjectively.
Zographer
One who describes animals, their forms and habits.
Zographist
A zographer.
Zography
A description of animals, their forms and habits.
Zologer
A zologist.
Zologize
To study zology; esp., to collect animals for study.
Zonule
Same as .
Zophagan
A animal that feeds on animal food.
Zophagous
Feeding on animals.
Zophilist
A lover of animals.
Zophyte
Any one of numerous species of invertebrate animals which more or less resemble plants in appearance, or mode of growth, as the corals, gorgonians, sea anemones, hydroids, bryozoans, sponges, etc., especially any of those that form compound colonies having a branched or treelike form, as many corals and hydroids.
Zophytoid
Pertaining to, or resembling, a zophyte.
Zophytology
The natural history zophytes.
Zotomist
One who dissects animals, or is skilled in zotomy.
Zope
A European fresh-water bream ().
Zorilla
Either one of two species of small African carnivores of the genus allied to the weasels and skunks.
Zoroastrian
Of or pertaining to , or his religious system.
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.
Zuche
A stump of a tree.
Zulus
The most important tribe belonging to the Kaffir race. They inhabit a region on the southeast coast of Africa, but formerly occupied a much more extensive country. They are noted for their warlike disposition, courage, and military skill.
Zygenid
Any one of numerous species of moths of the family , most of which are bright colored. The wood nymph and the vine forester are examples. Also used adjectively.
Zygobranchiate
Of or pertaining to the Zygobranchia.
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.
Zygomatic
Of, pertaining to, or in the region of, the zygoma.
Zygophyte
Any plant of a proposed class or grand division (, , or ), in which reproduction consists in the union of two similar cells. Cf. .
Zygosis
The process of the merging of two gametes. Same as .
Zygosphene
A median process on the front part of the neural arch of the vertebr of most snakes and some lizards, which fits into a fossa, called the , on the back part of the arch in front.
Zymologist
One who is skilled in zymology, or in the fermentation of liquors.
Zymolysis
The action of enzymes, such as digestion or fermentation; also, the changes produced by such action.
Zymome
A glutinous substance, insoluble in alcohol, resembling legumin; -- now called , , or .
Zymose
Invertin.
Zymosis
A fermentation; hence, an analogous process by which an infectious disease is believed to be developed.
Zythum
A kind of ancient malt beverage; a liquor made from malt and wheat.