zoophily
|zoo-phi-ly|
🇺🇸
/zoʊˈfɪli/
🇬🇧
/zuːˈfɪli/
pollination by animals
Etymology
'zoophily' originates from Greek via New Latin/Neo-Latin: Greek 'zōon' (ζῷον) meaning 'animal' plus Greek 'philia' (φιλία) meaning 'love' or 'affinity', used in scientific coinage to mean 'affinity to or association with animals'.
'zoophily' was formed in New Latin/Neo-Latin scientific vocabulary in the 19th century by combining Greek elements 'zoon' and 'philia'; it entered English as a technical term in biology and botany to describe animal-mediated processes.
Originally derived from roots meaning 'love of animals' or 'affinity for animals', the term was specialized in biological contexts to mean 'association with or attraction to animals', especially 'pollination by animals'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
pollination or attraction of flowers to animals; the condition or tendency of plants to be pollinated by animals (including insects, birds, mammals, etc.).
Many tropical orchids rely on zoophily, attracting specific insects or birds to transfer pollen.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/08/27 11:57