zebra
B1Neutral, used in both informal and formal contexts.
Definition
Meaning
A large African mammal of the horse family, having distinctive black and white (or sometimes brownish) stripes.
Something patterned with alternating stripes of contrasting colours, resembling a zebra's coat; also used attributively (e.g., zebra crossing).
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily a noun referring to the animal. Can function attributively as an adjective to describe patterns or objects (e.g., zebra print). Rarely used in other grammatical forms (verb, adverb).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term 'zebra crossing' (a pedestrian crossing marked with broad white stripes) is standard in UK English. In US English, this is not a standard term; specific terms like 'crosswalk' are used.
Connotations
The animal carries the same exotic/wildlife connotations. In US sports (e.g., American football), 'zebra' is informal slang for a referee (due to their striped shirts). This usage is less common in the UK.
Frequency
Animal reference equally frequent. The attributive use ('zebra crossing') is far more common in UK English.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
Look at the [zebra]The [zebra] has stripes.It looks like a [zebra].Vocabulary
Synonyms
Neutral
Weak
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Virtually unused, except perhaps in branding for a product with stripes.
Academic
Used in biology, zoology, and conservation contexts.
Everyday
Common when discussing animals, wildlife, or specific UK road features.
Technical
In computing, 'zebra striping' refers to alternating row colours in tables for readability.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- (Rare/Non-Standard) 'They decided to zebra-stripe the new cycle lane for visibility.'
American English
- (Rare/Non-Standard) 'The designer wants to zebra the background of the website.'
adjective
British English
- We need to repaint the zebra crossing near the school.
- She wore a dress with a zebra print.
American English
- The cake had a cool zebra-stripe effect inside.
- He bought zebra-print seat covers for his car.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The zebra is black and white.
- I saw a zebra at the zoo.
- Zebras live in herds on the African plains.
- Wait for the cars to stop at the zebra crossing.
- The zebra's stripes are thought to confuse predators and biting flies.
- The conservation project aims to protect the dwindling Grevy's zebra population.
- The report used zebra striping in its data tables to enhance readability.
- His argument presented a simplistic, zebra-like dichotomy that failed to capture the nuance of the issue.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'ZEBRA' - Zealously Exhibiting Black & White Rayed Appearance.
Conceptual Metaphor
PATTERN IS A ZEBRA'S COAT (used to describe any starkly contrasting, alternating stripe pattern).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- In Russian, the word is "зе́бра" (zebra), a direct borrowing with identical meaning. No false friend exists.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'zebra' as a countable noun with incorrect plural (e.g., 'zebras' is correct). Confusing the stress: UK /ˈzeb.rə/ vs. US /ˈziː.brə/.
Practice
Quiz
What is a primary difference in the pronunciation of 'zebra' between British and American English?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
The standard plural is 'zebras'. Using 'zebra' as a plural (like 'sheep') is incorrect.
It's a British term for a pedestrian crossing marked with alternating dark and white stripes on the road, where pedestrians have legal priority.
In American English, it is typically pronounced /ˈziː.brə/, with a long 'ee' sound in the first syllable, unlike the British /ˈzeb.rə/.
Not in standard usage. Occasionally, it might be used informally or creatively to mean 'to mark with stripes like a zebra,' but this is not established.