zygology, n.

zygology
http://www.oed.com/dictionary/zygology_n%3Ftab%3Dmeaning_and_use
First published 1986; not fully revised

# zygologynoun

## Earlier version

- zygology in OED Second Edition (1989)

## Factsheet

### What does the noun zygology mean?

There is one meaning in OED's entry for the noun zygology. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definition, usage, and quotation evidence.

#### Entry status

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

### How is the noun zygology pronounced?

#### British English

/zʌɪˈɡɒlədʒi/

### Where does the noun zygology come from?

Earliest known use

1970s

The earliest known use of the noun zygology is in the 1970s.

OED's earliest evidence for zygology is from 1970, in Assembly & Fastener Engin.

zygology is formed within English, by compounding.

Etymons: zygo- comb. form, ‑ology comb. form.

### Nearby entries

1. zygnomic, adj. 1926–
2. zygo-, comb. form
3. zygobranchiate, adj. 1883–
4. zygocactus, n. 1950–
5. zygocardiac, adj. 1877–
6. zygodactyl, adj. & n. 1831–
7. zygodactylic, adj. 1835–
8. zygodactylous, adj. 1828–
9. zygodont, adj. 1888–
10. zygogenesis, n. 1950–
11. zygology, n.1970–
12. zygoma, n. 1684–
13. zygomatic, adj. & n. 1712–
14. zygomatico-, comb. form
15. zygomato-, comb. form
16. zygomere, n. 1966–
17. zygomorphic, adj. 1875–
18. zygomorphism, n. 1875–
19. zygomorphous, adj. 1879–
20. Zygomycetes, n. 1887–
21. zygomycetous, adj. 1928–

## Etymology

### Summary

Formed within English, by compounding.
Etymons: zygo- comb. form, ‑ology comb. form.
< zygo- comb. form + ‑ology comb. form: coined by Mr. C. G. Hardie, Magdalen College, Oxford.

## Meaning & use

1. 1970–
   The branch of technology concerned with joining and fastening.
   1. 1970

      > We at Oxford Polytechnic are now offering courses in Zygology.

      Assembly & Fastener Engin. October 48/3
   2. 1973

      > Oxford Polytechnic... Postgraduate diploma in zygology.

      Oxford Times 14 December 40 (advertisement)
   3. 1976

      > Adhesion science should thus include adhesives and joints under its wing and is, if the reader likes classification, a branch of zygology.

      W. C. Wake, Adhesion i. 4
   1. bionics 1960–
      With singular agreement. The branch of science and technology that deals with the design and creation of electromechanical systems or devices that…
   2. zygology 1970–
      The branch of technology concerned with joining and fastening.
   3. alternative technology 1972–
      Any form of technology which (esp. in contrast to a mainstream alternative) achieves its desired aim whilst minimizing harm to the environment and…
   4. nanotechnology 1974–
      The branch of technology that deals with dimensions and tolerances of 1 to 100 nanometres, or, generally, with the manipulation of individual…
   5. green technology 1983–
      Environmentally beneficial technology, esp. as applied to mitigating or remediating the effects of human activity on the environment; (also) an…
   6. softnomics 1983–
      (A term coined in Japan for) the study of the shift in the economy of developed countries from the basis of manufacturing industry to that of…
   7. nano 1987–
      = nanotechnology, n. Frequently attributive and in compounds.
   8. nanotech 1990–
      = nanotechnology, n.
   9. green tech 1991–
      = green technology, n.
   View in Historical Thesaurus

## Pronunciation

### British English

/zʌɪˈɡɒlədʒi/

####

##### 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.

## Compounds & derived words

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1. zygologist, n. 1970–

1. zygological, adj. 1978–

zygology, n. was first published in 1986; not fully revised.

zygology, n. was last modified in December 2024.