zo·ol·o·gy (z?-?l??-j?, zo?o-)n. pl. zo·ol·o·gies 1. The branch of biology that deals with animals and animal life, including the study of the structure, physiology, development, and classification of animals.2. The animal life of a particular area or period: the zoology of Alaska; the zoology of the Pleistocene.3. The characteristics of a particular animal group or category: the zoology of mammals.4. A book or scholarly work on zoology.zo·ol?o·gist n.Usage Note: Traditionally, the first syllable of zoology has been pronounced as (z?), rhyming with toe. However, most likely due to the familiarity of the word zoo (which is merely a shortened form of zoological garden), the pronunciation of the first syllable as (zo?o) is also commonly heard. In 1999, 88 percent of the Panelists found the (z?-) pronunciation acceptable, and 60 percent found the (zo?o-) pronunciation acceptable, with 68 percent using the (z?-) pronunciation and 32 percent using the (zo?o-) pronunciation in their own speech. Thus, while both pronunciations can be considered acceptable, the (z?-) pronunciation may be perceived as more scientific.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.zoology (zu???l?d??; z??-) n, pl -gies1. (Zoology) the study of animals, including their classification, structure, physiology, and history2. (Zoology) the biological characteristics of a particular animal or animal group3. (Zoology) the fauna characteristic of a particular region4. (Zoology) a book, treatise, etc, dealing with any aspect of the study of animals zoological, zoologic adj zoologically adv zo?ologist nCollins English Dictionary ? Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014zo?ol?o?gy (zo???l ? d?i) n. the scientific study of animals, including characteristics, physiology, development, classification, etc. [1660?70] Random House Kernerman Webster’s College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.zo·ol·o·gy (z?-?l??-j?, zo?o-?l??-j?) The scientific study of animals, including their growth and structure.The American Heritage® Student Science Dictionary, Second Edition. Copyright © 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.ZoologySee also animals; biology; birds; bulls and bullfighting; butterflies; cats; cocks; dogs; fish; horses; insects; organisms; reptiles; snakes; wolves; worms. acarologya division of zoology that studies mites and ticks. ? acarologist, n.amphibiologythe branch of zoology that studies amphibians. ? amphibiological, adj.arachnologya branch of zoology that studies spiders and other arachnids. Also called arachnidology, araneology. ? arachnologist, n.carcinologythe branch of zoology that studies crustaceans. ? carcinologist, n.cetologythe study of whales. ? cetologist, n.coadunationthe state or condition of being united by growth. ? coadunate, adj.coccidologythe branch of zoology that studies scales, mealy bugs, and other members of the family Coccidea.conchologythe branch of zoology that studies the shells of mollusks. Also called malacology. ? conchologist, n. ? conchological, adj.crustaceologythe branch of zoology that studies crustaceans.cynologythe branch of zoology that studies the dog, especially its natural history.echinologythe branch of zoology that studies echinoderms.entomologythe study of insects. ? entomologist, n. ? entomologie, entomological, adj.epimorphosisdevelopment of an organism or form of animal life in which body segmentation is complete before hatching. ? epimorphic, adj.estivation, aestivationthe practice of certain animals of sleeping throughout the summer. Cf. hibernation.gemmationreproduction by budding. See also botany.hibernationthe practice of certain animals of sleeping throughout the winter. Cf. estivation.invertebracythe state or quality of being invertebrate or without a backbone, as certain organisms, animals, etc; hence, spinelessness; exhibiting a lack of strength of character. ? invertebrate, adj.lepidopterologythe branch of entomology that studies butterflies. ? lepidopterologist, lepidopterist, n.malacologyconchology. ? malacologist, n.mammalogythe branch of zoology that studies mammals. ? mammalogist, n.metamorphosisa change or succession of changes in form during the life cycle of an animal, allowing it to adapt to different environmental conditions, as a caterpillar into a butterfly.ornithologythe branch of zoology that studies birds. ? ornithologist, n.paleomammalogy, palaeomammalogythe branch of zoology that studies the mammals of past geologic ages.stirpicultureselective breeding to develop strains with particular characteristics. ? stirpicultural, adj.taxonomya system of naming things, as plants or animals. ? taxonomist, n. ? taxonomie, adj.viviparapl. animals whose young are bom live, as mammals. ? viviparity, n. ? viviparous, adj.zoogeography1. the study of the geographical distribution of animals.2. the study of the causes, effects, and other relations involved in such distributions. ? zoogeographer, n.zoonomy, zoonomiathe laws of animal life or the animal kingdom. ? zoonomist, n. ? zoonomic, adj.zoopathologythe study or science of the diseases of animals; animal pathology. Also zoopathy.zoopathyzoopathology.zoophysiologythe physiology of animals, as distinct from that of humans.zoophytologythe branch of zoology concerned with the zoophytes. ? zoophytological, adj.zootaxyzoological classification; the scientific classification of animals.-Ologies & -Isms. Copyright 2008 The Gale Group, Inc. All rights reserved.zoology1. The study and classification of animals.2. Study of animals.Dictionary of Unfamiliar Words by Diagram Group Copyright © 2008 by Diagram Visual Information Limited