zabaglione n. light foamy custard-like dessert served hot or chilled
zaftig adj. euphemisms for slightly fat
zag n. an angular shape characterized by sharp turns in alternating directions
zaire n. the basic unit of money in Zaire
zaman n. large ornamental tropical American tree withbipinnate leaves and globose clusters of flowers with crimson stamens and sweet-pulp seed pods eaten by cattle
zamang n. large ornamental tropical American tree withbipinnate leaves and globose clusters of flowers with crimson stamens and sweet-pulp seed pods eaten by cattle
zamia n. any of various cycads of the genus Zamia; among the smallest and most verdant cycads
zany adj. (informal terms); like a clown; a zany sense of humor@n. a buffoon in one of the old comedies; imitates others for ludicrous effect; a stupid fool
zap v. bomb with an atomic bomb; cook or heat in a microwave oven
zarf n. (Middle East) an ornamental metal cup-shaped holder for a hot coffee cup
zayin n. the 7th letter of the Hebrew alphabet
zeal n. a feeling of strong eagerness (usually in favor of a person or cause); he felt a kind of religious zeal; excessive fervor to do something or accomplish some end; he had an absolute zeal for litigation
zealot n. a fervent and even militant proponent of something
zealotry n. excessive intolerance of opposing views
zealous adj. marked by active interest and enthusiasm
zealously adv. in a zealous manner; she worked zealously to raise funds for the literacy project
zebra n. any of several fleet black-and-white striped African equines
zebrawood n. handsomely striped or mottled wood of the zebrawood tree; used especially for cabinetwork; any of various trees or shrubs having mottled or striped wood
zebu n. domesticated ox having a humped back and long horns and a large dewlap; used chiefly as a draft animal in India and east Asia
zed n. the letter Z; the British call Z zed but Americans call it zee
zee n. the letter Z; the British call Z zed but Americans call it zee
zeitgeist n. the general intellectual, moral, and cultural state of an era
zenana n. harem, seraglio
zenith n. the point above the observer that is directly opposite the nadir on the imaginary sphere against which celestial bodies appear to be projected
zenithal adj. relating to or located at or near the zenith
zep n. a large sandwich made of a long crusty roll split lengthwise and filled with meats and cheese (and tomato and onion and lettuce and condiments); different names are used in different sections of the United States
zephyr n. a slight wind (usually refreshing)
zeppelin n. a large rigid dirigible designed to carry passengers or bombs
zero n. a quantity of no importance@v. to adjust to zero value, of an instrument or device@adj. indicating the absence of any or all units under consideration; a zero score; indicating an initial point or origin
zest n. vigorous and enthusiastic enjoyment; a tart spiciness@v. make more interesting or flavorful, either in the literal or in a metaphorical sense
zestful adj. marked by spirited enjoyment
zestfully adv. with zest; she scrubbed the floors of the new apartment zestfully
zestfulness n. vigorous and enthusiastic enjoyment
zestily adv. with zest
zesty adj. having an agreeably pungent taste; marked by spirited enjoyment
zeta n. the 6th letter of the Greek alphabet
zeugma n. use of a word to govern two or more words though appropriate to only one; `Mr. Pickwick took his hat and his leave' is an example of zeugma
zidovudine n. an antiviral drug used in the treatment of AIDS; adverse side effects include liver damage and suppression of the bone marrow
zig n. an angular shape characterized by sharp turns in alternating directions
zigadene n. any of various plants of the genus Zigadenus having glaucous leaves and terminal racemes of mostly white flowers; all are poisonous
zigzag n. an angular shape characterized by sharp turns in alternating directions@v. travel along a zigzag path@adj. having short sharp turns or angles@adv. in a zigzag course or on a zigzag path; birds flew zigzag across the blue sky
zilch n. a quantity of no importance; I didn't hear zilch about it
zill n. one of a pair of small metallic cymbals worn on the thumb and middle finger; used in belly dancing in rhythm with the dance
zillion adj. very large indeterminate number; a zillion people were there
zillions n. a very large indefinite number (usually hyperbole)
zinc n. a bluish-white lustrous metallic element; brittle at ordinary temperatures but malleable when heated; used in a wide variety of alloys and in galvanizing iron; it occurs as zinc sulphide in zinc blende
zinfandel n. dry fruity red wine from California
zing n. a brief high-pitched buzzing or humming sound: the zing of the passing bullet; a activeness of an energetic personality
zinkenite n. a steel gray metallic mineral (a sulphide of lead and antimony)
zinnia n. any of various plants of the genus Zinnia cultivated for their variously and brightly colored flower heads
zinnwaldite n. a mica containing iron and lithium
zip v. close with a zipper; move very fast@n. a quantity of no importance; a device for locking together two toothed edges by means of a sliding tab
zipper v. close with a zipper@n. a device for locking together two toothed edges by means of a sliding tab
zippy adj. quick and energetic; marked by lively action
zircon n. a common mineral occurring in small crystals; chief source of zirconium; used as a refractory when opaque and as a gem when transparent
zirconia n. a white crystalline oxide; used in refractories and in insulation and abrasives and enamels and glazes
zirconium n. a lustrous gray strong metallic element resembling titanium; it is used in nuclear reactors as a neutron absorber; it occurs in baddeleyite but is obtained chiefly from zircon
zither n. a musical instrument with strings stretch over a flat sounding box; played with a plectrum and with fingers
zithern n. a musical instrument with strings stretch over a flat sounding box; played with a plectrum and with fingers
ziti n. medium-sized tubular pasta in short pieces
zloty n. the basic unit of money in Poland
zoanthropy n. the delusion that you have assumed the form of an animal
zodiac n. a belt-shaped region in the heavens on either side to the ecliptic; divided into 12 constellations or signs for astrological purposes; (astrology) a circular diagram representing the 12 zodiacal constellations and showing their signs
zodiacal adj. relating to or included in the zodiac; zodiacal constellations
zoftig adj. euphemisms for slightly fat
zoic adj. pertaining to animals or animal life or action
zombi n. (voodooism) a spirit or supernatural force that reanimates a dead body; a god of voodoo cults of African origin worshipped especially in W Indies; a dead body that has been brought back to life by a supernatural force
zombie n. a dead body that has been brought back to life by a supernatural force; (voodooism) a spirit or supernatural force that reanimates a dead body; a god of voodoo cults of African origin worshipped especially in W Indies
zonal adj. relating to or of the nature of a zone; the zonal frontier; associated with or divided into zones; a zonal pattern of cell structure
zonary adj. relating to or of the nature of a zone; of the nature of a zone
zone v. regulate housing in; of certain areas of towns; separate or apportion into sections@n. a circumscribed geographical region characterized by some distinctive features
zoning n. dividing an area into zones or sections reserved for different purposes such as residence and business and manufacturing etc
zoo n. the facility where wild animals are housed for exhibition
zooerastia n. sexual activity between a person and an animal
zooerasty n. sexual activity between a person and an animal
zooflagellate n. flagellate protozoan lacking photosynthesis and other plant-like characteristics
zoogeography n. a branch of biogeography concerned with the geographical distribution of animals -- zoogeographer n. -- zoogeographic or zoogeographical adj. -- zoogeographically adv.
zooid n. one of the distinct individuals forming a colonial animal such as a bryozoan or hydrozoan
zoolatry n. worship of animals
zoological adj. concerning the study of animals and their classification and properties; zoological research; of or relating to animals or animal groups; zoological garden
zoologist n. a specialist in the branch of biology dealing with animals
zoology n. the branch of biology that studies animals
zoom n. a rapid rise; the act of rising upward into the air@v. move along very quickly; move noisily, as of aircraft; rise rapidly, as of a current or voltage
zoomastigote n. flagellate protozoan lacking photosynthesis and other plant-like characteristics
zoomorphism n. the representation of a deity in the form or with the attributes of an animal; the use of animal forms in art -- zoomorphic adj.
zoonosis n. any inadvertent infection of humans by an animal pathogen
zoophagous adj. (of animals) carnivorous
zoophobia n. a morbid fear of animals
zoophyte n. any of various invertebrate animals resembling a plant such as a sea anemone or coral or sponge
zooplankton n. animal constituent of plankton; mainly small crustaceans and fish larvae
zoospore n. an asexual spore of some algae and fungi that moves by means of flagella
zori n. a sandal attached to the foot by a thong over the toes
zoril n. north African muishond
zoster n. eruptions along a nerve path often accompanied by severe neuralgia
zounds interj. used as a mild oath
zoysia n. any of several creeping grasses of the genus Zoysia
zucchetto n. a small round skullcap worn by Roman Catholic ecclesiastics
zucchini n. marrow squash plant whose fruit are eaten when small; small cucumber-shaped vegetable marrow; typically dark green
zwieback n. slice of sweet raised bread baked again until it is brown and hard and crisp
zygodactyl adj. (of bird feet) having the first and fourth toes directed backward the second and third forward
zygoma n. the slender arch formed by the temporal process of the cheekbone that bridges to the zygomatic process of the temporal bone
zygomorphic adj. (biology) capable of division into symmetrical halves by only one longitudinal plane passing through the axis
zygomorphous adj. (biology) capable of division into symmetrical halves by only one longitudinal plane passing through the axis
zygote n. the cell resulting from the union of an ovum and a spermatozoon (including the organism that develops from that cell)
zygotene n. the second stage of the prophase of meiosis
zygotic adj. of or relating to a zygote
zymase n. a complex of enzymes that cause glycolysis; originally found in yeast but also present in higher organisms
zymolysis n. a process in which an agent causes an organic substance to break down into simpler substances; especially, the anaerobic breakdown of sugar into alcohol
zymolytic adj. of or relating to or causing fermentation
zymosis n. the development and spread of an infectious disease; a process in which an agent causes an organic substance to break down into simpler substances; especially, the anaerobic breakdown of sugar into alcohol
zymotic adj. of or relating to or causing fermentation; relating to or caused by infection
zymurgy n. the branch of chemistry concerned with fermentation (as in making wine or brewing or distilling)
