English Explanatory Dictionary

menagerie

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  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.
  3. A diverse or miscellaneous group.
  4. The orchestra of a theatre.

Pronunciation

/məˈnæd͡ʒəɹɪ/ /mɪˈnæʒəɹɪ/ /məˈnædʒəri/ /məˈnæʒəri/ en-us-menagerie.ogg en-au-menagerie.ogg

Word forms

menagerie menageries ménagerie

Etymology

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

Synonyms

zoo zoological garden assortment motley crew hodgepodge melange

Related words

aviary conservatory

Derived words

menagerist

Translations

Armenian: գազանանոց Belarusian: звяры́нец Chinese Mandarin: 動物園 /动物园 Czech: zvěřinec Finnish: eläintarha French: ménagerie Georgian: სამხეცე German: Menagerie Greek: θηριοτροφείο Ancient Greek: θηριοτροφεῖον Ancient Greek: ζωγρεῖον Ido: menajerio Italian: serraglio Italian: recinto Latin: vīvārium Macedonian: ѕверилник Macedonian: менажерија Polish: menażeria Polish: zwierzyniec Portuguese: menagerie Portuguese: viveiro Romanian: menajerie Russian: звери́нец Spanish: casa de fieras Swedish: menageri Turkish: aslanhane Ukrainian: звіри́нець Volapük: nimikonlet
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