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.zo?o?gle?a or zo?o?gloe?a (?zo? ??gli ?) n., pl. -gle?as or -gloe?as, -gle?ae or -gloe?ae (-?gli i) a jellylike mass of microorganisms. [1875?80; zoo- + New Latin gloea gum