zonation, n.

zonation
http://www.oed.com/dictionary/zonation_n%3Ftab%3Dmeaning_and_use
First published 1921; not fully revised

# zonationnoun

## Earlier version

- zonation in OED Second Edition (1989)

## Factsheet

### What does the noun zonation mean?

There are two meanings listed in OED's entry for the noun zonation. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence.

zonation has developed meanings and uses in subjects including

ecology (1890s) genetics (1890s) physiology (1890s)

#### Entry status

OED is undergoing a continuous programme of revision to modernize and improve definitions. This entry has not yet been fully revised.

### How common is the noun zonation?

About 0.4occurrences per million words in modern written English

1890 | 0.03
1900 | 0.037
1910 | 0.045
1920 | 0.064
1930 | 0.11
1940 | 0.17
1950 | 0.26
1960 | 0.37
1970 | 0.44
1980 | 0.45
1990 | 0.43
2000 | 0.41
2010 | 0.34

### How is the noun zonation pronounced?

#### British English

/zəʊˈneɪʃn/
zoh-NAY-shuhn

#### U.S. English

/zoʊˈneɪʃən/
zoh-NAY-shuhn

### Where does the noun zonation come from?

Earliest known use

1890s

The earliest known use of the noun zonation is in the 1890s.

OED's earliest evidence for zonation is from 1898, in Rep. 67th Meeting Brit. Assoc. Advancem. Sci. 1897.

zonation is formed within English, by derivation.

Etymons: zone n., ‑ation suffix.

### Nearby entries

1. zonality, n. 1909–
2. zonally, adv. 1873–
3. zonal marking, n. 1958–
4. zona pellucida, n. 1841–
5. zona radiata, n. 1881–
6. zona reticularis, n. 1874–
7. zonarious, adj. 1656–
8. zonary, adj. 1881–
9. zonate, adj. 1866–
10. zonated, adj. 1803–
11. zonation, n.1898–
12. zone, n. a1500–
13. zone, v. 1792–
14. zone centre | zone center, n. 1934–
15. zoned, adj. 1662–
16. zone defence | zone defense, n. 1927–
17. zone electrophoresis, n. 1952–
18. zone fossil, n. 1904–
19. zoneless, adj. 1748–
20. zonelet, n. 1855–
21. zone level, v. 1974–

## Etymology

### Summary

Formed within English, by derivation.
< zone n. + ‑ation suffix.

## Meaning & use

1. 1. a.
      1898–
      Distribution in zones or regions of definite character; spec. in Ecology, the distribution of plants into specific zones which are characterized by their dominant species.
      1. 1898

         > The zonal constitution and disposition of plant formations. By Frederic E. Clements.

         Rep. 67th Meeting Brit. Assoc. Advancem. Sci. 1897 863 (heading)
      2. 1898

         > The author has here reviewed the phytogeographical contributions bearing upon the subject in hand, with especial reference to the part they have played in the elaboration of the conception of zonation. In addition, he has endeavoured to demonstrate the fundamental universality of zonation in all divisions of the floral covering.

         Rep. 67th Meeting Brit. Assoc. Advancem. Sci. 1897 863
      3. 1904

         > Zonation in a habitat... The line that connects the points of accumulated or abrupt change in the symmetry is a stress line or ecotone... Ecotones are well marked between formations, particularly where the medium changes: they are less distinct within formations. It is obvious that an ecotone separates two different series of zones in the one case, and merely two distinct zones in the other.

         F. E. Clements in Bot. Surv. Nebraska No. 7. 153
      4. 1926

         > Adjacent plant communities are often arranged in more or less definite zones, following one another in constant order. This is specially noticeable in ascending a mountain (where it is called altitudinal zonation).

         A. G. Tansley & T. F. Chipp, Aims & Methods in Study of Vegetation iv. 53
      5. 1936

         > Reliable local zonation of both the Eocene and the Oligocene has been worked out in the Tampico area.

         J. Muir, Geol. Tampico Region, Mexico 121
      6. 1969

         > Marine work during the first eight months concentrated on community structure and zonation on cliffs, reef flats and in mangrove woodland.

         Nature 15 March 1005/2
      7. 1971

         > It is first necessary therefore to establish a regional metamorphic zonation.

         Scottish Journal of Geology vol. 7 306
      8. 1981

         > I would have preferred to have seen an accompanying annotated sketch so that the plant zonations could be easily recognised.

         Birds Autumn 63/3
      ecology
      1. cosmopolitanism 1870–
         Natural History. World-wide distribution.
      2. endemicity 1886–
         The quality or fact of being endemic.
      3. endemism 1886–
         The character or quality of being endemic; spec. of a plant or animal species, the state or condition of being indigenous only in a specified area.
      4. bipolarity 1896–
         The occurrence of the same species in each of the polar regions but not in the intervening zones (see also quot. 1959).
      5. radiation 1898–
         Biology. The evolutionary diversification of an animal or plant lineage into forms adapted to different habitats or ecological niches; = adaptive radi…
      6. zonation 1898–
         Distribution in zones or regions of definite character; spec. in Ecology, the distribution of plants into specific zones which are characterized…
      7. frequency 1913–
         Ecology. A measurement of the way individuals of a species are distributed in a community.
      8. provincialism 1929–
         Ecology. The condition of constituting or occurring (only) in a particular biogeographical province. Also: evolution or (scientific) partitioning…
      9. overdispersion 1930–
         Greater variance in a set of observations than would be expected on the assumption of independence and homogeneity (which underlies e.g. binomial…
      10. under-dispersion 1935–
          A reduced degree or amount of dispersion; spec. in Ecology, a greater evenness in the distribution of individuals than would be expected on purely…
      11. provinciality 1952–
          Ecology and Palaeontology. The degree of restriction of the distribution of a plant or animal community to a particular province or group of…
      View in Historical Thesaurus
   2. b.
      1899–
      Formation of zones in the oocytes of certain plants and animals.
      1. 1899

         > There is a stage called zonation in which the nuclei, usually in metaphase, are lined up around the ooplasm.

         Botanical Gazette vol. 28 237
      2. 1902

         > During the completion of the mitosis the ooplasm and periplasm become clearly differentiated, but as yet no plasmoderma exists. This process of differentiation has been termed zonation.

         Botanical Gazette December 421
      3. 1975

         > The zonation of the ooplasm reveals that a majority of the oocytes [of the teleost Schizothorax richardsonii] have a darkly stained inner and a lightly stained outer zone.

         Acta Anatomy vol. XCIII. 512
      genetics physiology
      1. zonation 1899–
         Formation of zones in the oocytes of certain plants and animals.
      2. diakinesis 1902–
         The last stage of meiotic prophase, immediately preceding the disappearance of the nuclear membrane.
      3. parasynapsis 1909–
         Side-by-side pairing of chromosomes at meiosis. Cf. telosynapsis, n.
      4. syndesis 1909–25
         The pairing of chromosomes in mitosis or meiosis. Cf. synapsis, n. 2.
      5. parasyndesis 1911–
         Side-by-side pairing of chromosomes at meiosis; = parasynapsis, n. Cf. metasyndesis, n.
      6. non-disjunction 1913–
         Genetics and Cell Biology. The failure of one or more pairs of homologous chromosomes (at meiosis) or sister chromatids (at mitosis) to separate…
      7. non-conjunction 1925–
         Genetics and Cell Biology. The failure of homologous chromosomes to pair at meiosis.
      8. asynapsis 1930–
         Absence of synapsis; failure of chromosomes to pair in meiosis.
      9. stathmokinesis 1938–
         The arrest of cell division at the stage of metaphase, as a result of treatment with specific drugs which affect the mitotic spindle, such as…
      10. misdivision 1939–
          Genetics and Cell Biology. Abnormal division of a chromosome, nucleus, or cell at meiosis or mitosis; esp. transverse, rather than longitudinal…
      11. metakinesis 1948–
          Biology. The movement of chromosomes to the spindle equator early in metaphase of mitosis.
      12. tandem duplication 1959–
          An atypical form of duplication (duplication, n. 1e) in which the repeated segments lie immediately adjacent to one another on the same chromosome.
      View in Historical Thesaurus
      1. zonation 1899–
         Formation of zones in the oocytes of certain plants and animals.
      View in Historical Thesaurus

## Pronunciation

### British English

/zəʊˈneɪʃn/
zoh-NAY-shuhn

### U.S. English

/zoʊˈneɪʃən/
zoh-NAY-shuhn

####

##### Consonants

- ppea
- ttea
- kkey
- bbuy
- ddye
- ɡguy
- tʃchore
- dʒjay
- ffore
- θthaw
- ssore
- ʃshore
- vvee
- ðthee
- zzee
- ʒbeige
- xloch
- hhay
- llay
- ɬrhingyll
- rray
- wway
- jyore
- mmay
- nnay
- ŋsing

Some consonants can take the function of the vowel in unstressed syllables. Where necessary, a syllabic marker diacritic is used, hence /ˈpɛtl/ but /ˈpɛtl̩i/.

##### Vowels

- iːfleece
- ihappy
- ɪkit
- ɛdress
- atrap, bath
- ɑːstart, palm, bath
- ɒlot
- ɔːthought, force
- ʌstrut
- ʊfoot
- uːgoose
- əletter
- əːnurse
- ɪənear
- ɛːsquare
- ʊəcure
- eɪface
- ʌɪpride
- aʊmouth
- əʊgoat
- ɔɪvoice
- ãgratin
- ɒ̃salon
- ᵻ(/ɪ/-/ə/)
- ᵿ(/ʊ/-/ə/)

##### Other symbols

- The symbol ˈ at the beginning of a syllable indicates that that syllable is pronounced with primary stress.
- The symbol ˌ at the beginning of a syllable indicates that that syllable is pronounced with secondary stress.
- Round brackets ( ) in a transcription indicate that the symbol within the brackets is optional.

View the pronunciation model here.

####

##### Consonants

- ppea
- ttea
- kkey
- bbuy
- ddye*
- ɡguy
- tʃchore
- dʒjay
- ffore
- θthaw
- ssore
- ʃshore
- vvee
- ðthee
- zzee
- ʒbeige
- xloch
- hhay
- llay
- rray
- wway
- jyore
- mmay
- nnay
- ŋsing

* /d/ also represents a 'tapped' /t/ as in

Some consonants can take the function of the vowel in unstressed syllables. Where necessary, a syllabic marker diacritic is used, hence /ˈpɛd(ə)l/ but /ˈpɛdl̩i/.

##### Vowels

- ifleece, happy
- ɪkit
- ɛdress
- ætrap, bath
- ɑlot, palm, cloth, thought
- ɑrstart
- ɔcloth, thought
- ɔrnorth, force
- ʊfoot
- ugoose
- əstrut, comma
- ərnurse, letter
- ɪ(ə)rnear
- ɛ(ə)rsquare
- ʊ(ə)rcure
- eɪface
- aɪpride
- aʊmouth
- oʊgoat
- ɔɪvoice
- ɑ̃gratin
- æ̃salon
- ᵻ(/ɪ/-/ə/)
- ᵿ(/ʊ/-/ə/)

##### Other symbols

- The symbol ˈ at the beginning of a syllable indicates that that syllable is pronounced with primary stress.
- The symbol ˌ at the beginning of a syllable indicates that that syllable is pronounced with secondary stress.
- Round brackets ( ) in a transcription indicate that the symbol within the brackets is optional.

View the pronunciation model here.

####

Simple text respell breaks words into syllables, separated by a hyphen. The syllable which carries the primary stress is written in capital letters. This key covers both British and U.S. English Simple Text Respell.

##### Consonants

b, d, f, h, k, l, m, n, p, r, s, t, v, w and z have their standard English values

- gguy
- jjay
- yyore
- chchore
- khloch
- shshore
- ththaw
- dhthee
- zhbeige

##### Vowels

- atrap
- ahpalm
- airsquare
- arstart
- arrcarry (British only)
- awthought
- ayface
- a(ng)gratin
- edress
- eefleece
- eerdeer
- errmerry
- ikit
- ighpride
- irrmirror
- olot (British only)
- ohgoat
- oogoose
- oorcure
- orforce
- orrsorry (British only)
- owmouth
- oyvoice
- o(ng)salon
- ustrut
- uhletter
- urnurse
- urrhurry
- uufoot

## Frequency

zonation typically occurs about 0.4 times per million words in modern written English.

zonation is in frequency band 4, which contains words occurring between 0.1 and 1 times per million words in modern written English. More about OED's frequency bands

Frequency data is computed programmatically, and should be regarded as an estimate.

### Frequency of zonation, n., 1890–2010

* Occurrences per million words in written English

Historical frequency series are derived from Google Books Ngrams (version 2), a data set based on the Google Books corpus of several million books printed in English between 1500 and 2010.

The overall frequency for a given word is calculated by summing frequencies for the main form of the word, any plural or inflected forms, and any major spelling variations.

For sets of homographs (distinct entries that share the same word-form, e.g. mole, n.¹, mole, n.², mole, n.³, etc.), we have estimated the frequency of each homograph entry as a fraction of the total Ngrams frequency for the word-form. This may result in inaccuracies.

Smoothing has been applied to series for lower-frequency words, using a moving-average algorithm. This reduces short-term fluctuations, which may be produced by variability in the content of the Google Books corpus.

Decade | Frequency per million words
--- | ---
1890 | 0.03
1900 | 0.037
1910 | 0.045
1920 | 0.064
1930 | 0.11
1940 | 0.17
1950 | 0.26
1960 | 0.37
1970 | 0.44
1980 | 0.45
1990 | 0.43
2000 | 0.41
2010 | 0.34

### Frequency of zonation, n., 2017–2024

* Occurrences per million words in written English

Modern frequency series are derived from a corpus of 20 billion words, covering the period from 2017 to the present. The corpus is mainly compiled from online news sources, and covers all major varieties of World English.

Smoothing has been applied to series for lower-frequency words, using a moving-average algorithm. This reduces short-term fluctuations, which may be produced by variability in the content of the corpus.

Period | Frequency per million words
--- | ---
2017 | 0.0063
2018 | 0.0095
2019 | 0.014
2020 | 0.023
2021 | 0.029
2022 | 0.039
2023 | 0.044
2024 | 0.047

zonation, n. was first published in 1921; not fully revised.

zonation, n. was last modified in July 2023.