Meaning & use
zoology
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Meanings
noununcountable
The scientific study of animals, including their bodies, behavior, classification, and where they live.
Grammar: Names of academic subjects are uncountable: 'study zoology', not 'a zoology'.
Patterns
- study zoology
- a degree in zoology
- the zoology of something
He studied zoology at university and now works in a nature reserve.
Zoology helps us understand how animals adapt to their environment.
Her research in zoology focuses on insects in tropical forests.
noununcountabletechnical
The animals of a particular area or period, considered as a group.
Grammar: Used in phrases like 'the zoology of the island'.
Patterns
- the zoology of a place
- the zoology of a period
The zoology of these islands is unusual because so few mammals live there.
The book describes the zoology of the region in detail.
Common combinations
- a degree in zoology
- She has a degree in zoology from a university in California.
- study zoology
- He decided to study zoology because he loved animals.
- the department of zoology
- The department of zoology has a new laboratory.
- marine zoology
- Marine zoology covers animals that live in oceans.
- a professor of zoology
- A professor of zoology gave the lecture.
Synonyms and how they differ
- animal biology
- A plainer phrase for the same field; 'zoology' is the traditional academic term.
- biology
- Biology covers all living things; zoology is the part that deals with animals.
Word family
- zoologist noun
- A scientist who studies animals.
- zoological adjective
- Relating to zoology or the study of animals.
Commonly confused: zoology or zoo?
zoology vs zoo
A zoo is a place where people go to see animals; zoology is the science of studying them.
Practice
She is studying ______ at university because she wants to understand animal behavior.
Choose one answer.
Zoology is the subject she studies. A zoo is a place, a zoologist is a person, and botany is the study of plants.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “zoology”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.