Zeolite, zē′ō-līt, n. the common name of a large group of minerals often called the Zeolitic family—they are all soluble in acids, and most of them gelatinise in acids in consequence of silica being set free.—adjs. Zeolit′ic; Zeolit′iform. [Gr. zeein, to boil, lithos, a stone.]
Zephyr, zef′ir, n. the west wind: a soft, gentle breeze: thin light worsted or woollen yarn, also a close-fitting jersey or undergarment made of such: anything very light and fine of its kind.—Zephyr cloth, a thin, finely spun woollen cloth for women's gowns. [Gr. zephyros—zophos, darkness, the dark quarter, the west.]
Zerda, zer′da, n. a small African fox, a fennec.
Zereba=Zareba (q.v.).
Zero, zē′ro, n. cipher: nothing: the point from which the reckoning begins on scales, such as those of the barometer, &c. [Fr.,—Ar. sifr. Doublet cipher.]
Zerumbet, zē-rum′bet, n. an East Indian drug, the cassumunar—sometimes for the round zedoary.
Zest, zest, n. something that gives a relish: relish. [Fr. zeste, skin of an orange or lemon used to give a flavour—L. schistus—Gr. schistos, cleft, divided—schizein, to cleave.]
Zeta, zē′ta, n. a small closet or parlour, the sexton's room over the porch of a church. [Gr. diaita, a dwelling.]
Zetetic, zē-tet′ik, adj. proceeding by inquiry.—n. a seeker, the name taken by some of the Pyrrhonists. [Gr. zētētikos—zētein, to seek.]
Zeuglodon, zūg′lō-don, n. a fossil whale-like mammal, so named by Owen from the yoke-like double-rooted formation of its cheek teeth.—adj. and n. Zeug′lodont.—n.pl. Zeuglodon′tia, a suborder of Cetacea, represented by the zeuglodonts. [Gr. zeuglē, the strap or loop of the yoke, odous, -ontos, a tooth.]