menagerie

Hello, you have come here looking for the meaning of the word menagerie. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word menagerie, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say menagerie in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word menagerie you have here. The definition of the word menagerie will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition ofmenagerie, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
See also: Menagerie and ménagerie

English

WOTD – 5 July 2010
English Wikipedia has an article on:
Wikipedia

Alternative forms

Etymology

From French ménagerie, derived from ménager (“to keep house”), household. Housekeeping used to include taking care of domestic animals.

Pronunciation

Noun

menagerie (plural menageries)

  1. A collection of live wild animals as an exhibition historically associated with the aristocracy and considered a precursor of modern zoos.
  2. The enclosure where they are kept.
    • 1949, Bruce Kiskaddon, George R. Stewart, Earth Abides:
      In Sacramento a crazed woman opened the cages of a circus menagerie for fear the animals might starve to death, and had been mauled by a lioness.
  3. A diverse or miscellaneous group.
  4. (obsolete, slang) The orchestra of a theatre.

Translations

Portuguese

Noun

menagerie f (plural menageries)

  1. menagerie (collection of live wild animals on exhibition)
Wikious
Boobota
Sagapedia