zebra

noun

ze·​bra ˈzē-brə 

 Canadian and British also  ˈze-

plural zebras

1

plural also zebra : any of several swift African mammals (Equus grevyi, E. quagga, and E. zebra) related to the horse but distinctively and conspicuously patterned in stripes of black or dark brown and white or buff

2

[from the shirts patterned in black-and-white stripes worn by football referees] : referee sense 2

3

: zebra crossing

zebrine

ˈzē-ˌbrīn 

 Canadian and British also  ˈze-

adjective or noun

Examples of zebra in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

During the game drive at Aquila, safari-goers will see South Africa’s big five: lions, elephants, buffalos, cheetahs, and rhinos, plus more local wildlife including giraffes, hippos, flamingos, zebras, springboks, birds, and more. —Melissa Kravitz Hoeffner, Forbes, 30 Sep. 2024

Some previous studies have indeed shown that cattle can compete for grass with wild herbivores such as wildebeests, impalas, Thomson’s gazelles, zebras, buffalo, and giraffes. —Bygeoffrey Kamadi, science.org, 10 Sep. 2024

By extracting and studying DNA from the hairs, scientists determined the two lions feasted on giraffe, waterbuck, zebra, oryx, wildebeest—and, yes, several humans. —Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 15 Oct. 2024

Resident endangered species span from the zebra shark to the African penguin, while initiatives like coral restoration and sea turtle rehabilitation are both top priorities for the aquarium’s many on-staff scientists. —Jared Ranahan, Forbes, 11 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Portuguese zebra, zebro wild ass, perhaps from Latin equiferus, kind of wild horse, from equus horse + ferus wild — more at equine, fierce

First Known Use

1597, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing zebra

• Grevy's zebra
• zebra crossing
• zebra finch
• zebra fish
• zebra mussel

Kids Definition

zebra

noun

ze·​bra ˈzēb-rə 

plural zebras also zebra

1

: any of several hoofed plant-eating African mammals that are related to the horse, have a hide striped in black or dark brown and white or buff, and are swift runners

2

: a small Indian fish with blue and silver stripes that is often kept in tropical aquariums