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zoology

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Zoology is defined as the scientific study of animals.

Facts About Zoology

A person who studies zoology is known as a zoologist.
The study of zoology is a vast field, and there are many individual fields of zoology that a person can specialize in rather than holding a general degree as a zoologist.
A zoologist who specializes in the study of fish is called a zoologist, but is properly known as an ichthyologist. A zoologist whose primary focus is the study of mammals would technically be a mammalogist.
There is evidence to suggest that zoology has existed since the time of Ancient Greece and Aristotle.
Darwin’s theory of evolution improved the study of zoology in leaps and bounds and was the beginning of modern day zoology.

(noun)

A course that teaches about the biology of animals is an example of zoology.

See zoology in Webster's New World College Dictionary

noun

the branch of biology that deals with animals, their life, structure, growth, classification, etc.
the animal life of an area; fauna
the characteristics or properties of an animal or animal group

Origin: ModL zoologia: see zoo- & -logy

See zoology in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun pl. zo·ol·o·gies

The branch of biology that deals with animals and animal life, including the study of the structure, physiology, development, and classification of animals.
The animal life of a particular area or period: the zoology of Alaska; the zoology of the Pleistocene.
The characteristics of a particular animal group or category: the zoology of mammals.
A book or scholarly work on zoology.

Related Forms:

zo·olˈo·gist noun

Usage Note: Traditionally, the first syllable of zoology has been pronounced as (ō), 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 (o͞o) is also commonly heard. In 1999, 88 percent of the Panelists found the (zō-) pronunciation acceptable, and 60 percent found the (zo͞o-) pronunciation acceptable, with 68 percent using the (zō-) pronunciation and 32 percent using the (zo͞o-) pronunciation in their own speech. Thus, while both pronunciations can be considered acceptable, the (zō-) pronunciation may be perceived as more correct.

See zoology in Ologies

Zoology

acarology

a division of zoology that studies mites and ticks. —acarologist, n.

aestivation

estivation.

amphibiology

the branch of zoology that studies amphibians. —amphibiological, adj.

arachnology

a branch of zoology that studies spiders and other arachnids. Also called arachnidology, araneology. —arachnologist, n.

carcinology

the branch of zoology that studies crustaceans. —carcinologist, n.

cetology

the study of whales. —cetologist, n.

coadunation

the state or condition of being united by growth. —coadunate, adj.

coccidology

the branch of zoology that studies scales, mealy bugs, and other members of the family Coccidea.

conchology

the branch of zoology that studies the shells of mollusks. Also called malacology. —conchologist, n. —conchological, adj.

crustaceology

the branch of zoology that studies crustaceans.

cynology

the branch of zoology that studies the dog, especially its natural history.

echinology

the branch of zoology that studies echinoderms.

entomology

the study of insects. —entomologist, n. —entomologie, entomological, adj.

epimorphosis

development of an organism or form of animal life in which body segmentation is complete before hatching. —epimorphic, adj.

estivation, aestivation

the practice of certain animals of sleeping throughout the summer. Cf. hibernation.

gemmation

reproduction by budding. See also botany.

hibernation

the practice of certain animals of sleeping throughout the winter. Cf. estivation.

invertebracy

the 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.

lepidopterology

the branch of entomology that studies butterflies. —lepidopterologist, lepidopterist, n.

malacology

conchology. —malacologist, n.

mammalogy

the branch of zoology that studies mammals. —mammalogist, n.

metamorphosis

a 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.

ornithology

the branch of zoology that studies birds. —ornithologist, n.

paleomammalogy, palaeomammalogy

the branch of zoology that studies the mammals of past geologic ages.

stirpiculture

selective breeding to develop strains with particular characteristics. —stirpicultural, adj.

taxonomy

a system of naming things, as plants or animals. —taxonomist, n. —taxonomie, adj.

vivipara

pl. animals whose young are bom live, as mammals. —viviparity, n. —viviparous, adj.

zoogeography

1. the study of the geographical distribution of animals.