zo·o·gloe·a also zo·o·gle·a (z???-gl???)n. pl. zo·o·gloe·ae (-gl????) or zo·o·gloe·as also zo·o·gle·ae (-gl????) or zo·o·gle·as 1. Any of various highly motile, aerobic bacteria of the genus Zoogloea found especially in wastewater, where the cells aggregate into flocculent, gelatinous masses.2. A mass of such bacteria or other bacteria.[zoo- + New Latin gloea, gum (from Medieval Greek gloia, glia, gum, glue, from Greek gloios).]zo?o·gloe?al adj.American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.zoogloea (?z?????li??) n (Microbiology) a mass of bacteria adhering together by a jelly-like substance derived from their cell walls[C19: zoo- + New Latin gloea glue, from Greek gloia] ?zoo?gloeal, ?zoo?gloeic adjCollins English Dictionary ? Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014