zoon

English

Alternative forms

• zoön

Etymology

First adopted by Herbert Spencer in Principles of Biology (see 1864 quotation): from New Latin zōon, from Ancient Greek ζῷον (zōion, “animal”).

Pronunciation

• (RP) IPA: /ˈzəʊɒn/

Noun

zoon (plural zoa or zoons)

1. (biology):
   1. An animal which is the sole product of a single egg.
   2. Any one of the perfectly developed individuals of a compound animal.

Quotations

• 1864, Herbert Spencer, Principles of Biology, page 205, § 73 (1868 reprint; D. Appleton & Co.)

  [… A] zoological individual is constituted either by any such single animal as a mammal or bird, which may properly claim the title of a zoon, or by any such group of animals as the numerous Medusæ that have been developed from the same egg, which are to be severally distinguished as zooids.

Antonyms

• (an animal which is the sole product of a single egg): zooid

Part or all of this entry has been imported from the 1913 edition of Webster’s Dictionary, which is now free of copyright and hence in the public domain. The imported definitions may be significantly out of date, and any more recent senses may be completely missing.

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Dutch

Etymology

From Middle Dutch sone, from Old Dutch *sunu, suno, from Proto-Germanic *sunuz, from Proto-Indo-European *suHnús. Compare West Frisian soan, Low German Söhn, German Sohn, English son, Danish søn.

Pronunciation

• audio

  (file)

• IPA: /zoːn/
• Rhymes: -oːn

Noun

zoon m (plural zonen or zoons, diminutive zoontje)

1. son

   Mijn zoon wil met de jouwe spelen.

   My son wants to play with yours.

See also

• dochter

Descendants

• Afrikaans: seun

Anagrams

• ozon

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Esperanto

Noun

zoon

1. accusative singular of zoo