zoo-, zoa-, zo-, -zoic, -zoid, -zoite, -zoal, -zonal, -zooid, -zoon, -zoa, -zoan

(Greek: animal, animals; living beings; life)

zoomorph (s) (noun), zoomorphs (pl)
A design element that depicts an animal in a religious content, in art, and in literature: Zoomorphs can be those found in cave paintings or drawings, or even in a fish-shaped door handle from Germany!
zoomorphic (adjective) (not comparable)
1. Relating to or characterized by the form of an animal: In the game at the party, the children tried zoomorphic positions of different fauna which were to be guessed by the others in the group.
2. Regarding human behavior as equivalent to animal behavior: Jack's mother thought that her son acted in a zoomorphic manner when devouring his meal at the dinner table.
3. Concerning a deity (a god or a goddess) or a human that has an animal form or attributes: One zoomorphic creature from the Greek myths is the Centaur which had the head, arms, and chest of a man and the body and legs of a horse.

Another zoomorphic human is a mermaid which has the upper body of a woman and the lower body (from about the stomach area) of a fish.

zoomorphism (s) (noun), zoomorphisms (pl)
1. The view of human behavior in terms of the behavior of animals: Zoomorphism refers especially to the principle that human actions are entirely the result of biological and instinctual drives rather than reason or emotion.
2. The fact of conceiving or representing a deity as having an animal form: In ancient Egyptian religion, gods were portrayed in an animal form, which shows it being not only a piece of art, but also important in a religious context, and known as zoomorphism.
3. The attribution of animal characteristics or qualities to a god: Airavata is the king god of elephants which appears in Indian mythology and is another example of zoomorphism.
4. The use of animal forms in symbolism, literature, or graphic representation: Zoomorphism, for example, is found in Islamic art.
zoomorphosis (s) (noun), zoomorphoses (pl)
1. Having the form of an animal: In one fairy tale, zoomorphosis took place when the bad fairy cast a spell on the prince and turned him into a frog!
2. Formation of structures in plants as a result of animal agents: A gall on a plant is a product of animal activity and is known as zoomorphosis.
zoomyle (s) (noun), zoomyles (s)
One variety of a human malformation or "monster": A zoomyle includes uterine moles which are abnormal developments of the placenta during pregnancy and also known as, "hydatidiform moles".

The "mole" may consist of multiple cysts which develop in the placenta so that it appears like a large bunch of grapes. One complication is an invasive mole, in which the abnormal placenta penetrates through the wall of the uterus and damages it to the point where a hysterectomy is necessary. More seriously, four percent of women develop cancer in the abnormal tissue (choriocarcinoma).

This is a term which was coined by Geoffrey Saint-Hilaire (c. 1857) for a variety of human-body malformations.

—Harold Speert, M.D., Obstetrics and Gynecology, A History and Iconography
(Revised Third Edition of Iconographia Gyniatrica),
The Parthenon Publishing Group, New York, 2004.
zoon (s) (noun); zoa; zoons (pl)
An individual developed from an egg; zooid: In Tim's biology book, he read about a zoon being created from a single egg into a perfectly developed animal.
zooneuston (s) (noun), zooneustons (pl)
A minute animal organism that floats or swims on surface water or on a surface film of water: Grace had to look through a microscope in order to view the zooneustons that she had collected from the small pond for her research project at school.
zooneustonic (adjective) (not comparable)
Referring to the tiny organisms that glide or drift on the top of the water: Jim was impressed by the number of zooneustonic critters, or minute organisms, that he scrutinized under the microscope in his biology class at school.
zoonomic (adjective) (not comparable)
Concerning the science regarding the laws of faunae life: Jack finally found a book pertaining to zoonomic aspects and concepts in respect of the natural principles of living creatures.
zoonomist (s) (noun). zoonomists (pl)
A specialist in the laws of animal life: Tommy wanted to become a zoonomist who deals with the facts and marvels of the lives of faunae.
zoonomy (s) (noun) (no pl)
The laws of animal life or the animal kingdom; zoonomia: Zoonomy is a science that includes the physiology of animals as well as the causes and relations of the facts of living faunae and the essential economy of faunae.
zoonosia (s) (noun) (no pl)
An infection or infestation shared in nature by humans and other animals that are the normal or usual host: Zoonoisa is a disease which people can acquire from an animal.
zoonosis (s) (noun), zoonoses (pl)
A disease of lower animals that may be transmitted to mankind: Types of zoonoses can be rabies, brucellosis, bird flu, or parrot fever (psittacosis).

Zoonosis is an infection communicated from one kind of animal to another, or to a human being, but usually restricted to diseases transmitted naturally to man from animals. It is also termed "anthropozoonosis".

A dog's saliva may contain viral zoonoses that include rabies and other infections.

One of the main functions of the veterinarian is to prevent and control zoonosis.

Pointing to a page about animal diseases or zoonoses. Human diseases caused by animals: Zoonoses, Part 1.

Pointing to a page about animal diseases or zoonoses. Human diseases caused by animals: Zoonoses, Part 2.

Diseases caused by animals. Dracunculiasis or the Guinea worm infestation.


zoonosologist (s) (noun), zoonosologists (pl)
A specialist in the diseases of animals: Jim's father was a zoonosologist who classified the disorders and illnesses of animals.
zoonosology (s) (noun) (no pl)
The study and classification of the various diseases of animals: Since Toby was very interested in animals, he decided to study zoonosology in order to learn more about animal ailments and disorders which would help him in becoming a successful veterinarian.

Related "animal" units: anima-; faun-; therio-.


If you click on the envelope or the frog, you can send an e-mail message from here:

e-mail connection.