Zebra

English

Pronunciation

• (UK, Commonwealth) IPA: /ˈzɛbɹə, ˈziːbɹə/

• Audio (UK)

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• (US) IPA: /ˈziːbɹə/

• Audio (US)

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Noun

Zebra (plural Zebras)

1. an African animal, closely related to a horse, with black and white stripes
2. (sports, slang) a referee
3. (medicine, slang) an unlikely diagnosis, especially for symptoms probably caused by a common ailment. (Originates in the advice often given to medical students: "When you hear hoof beats, think of horses, not zebras.")
4. (vulgar, pejorative, slang) a bi-racial person, specifically one born to a member of the Sub-Saharan African race and a Caucasian.

Synonyms

• (unusual diagnosis): fascinoma

Scientific names

• Equus burchelli
• Equus grevyi
• Equus quagga
• Equus zebra

Derived terms

Grevy's Zebra mountain zebra plains zebra zebra butterfly zebra crossing

zebra finch zebra fish zebra mongoose zebra mussel zebra shark