zebra

noun

• 1an African wild horse with black-and-white stripes and an erect mane.

  • Genus Equus, family Equidae: three species, the common zebra (E. burchellii), Grevy’s zebra (E. grevyi), and the mountain zebra (E. zebra). See also quagga

• 2a large butterfly with pale bold stripes on a dark background, in particular.

  • a yellow and black American butterfly (Heliconius charitonius, subfamily Heliconiinae, family Nymphalidae).

• 3 (also zebra fish) South African a silvery-gold sea bream with vertical black stripes.

  • Diplodus cervinus, family Sparidae

• 4 informal a person whose characteristic garb is a black-and-white striped uniform, especially a football official or a convict.