zombie
pronunciation
How to pronounce zombie in British English: UK [ˈzɒmbi]
How to pronounce zombie in American English: US [ˈzɑmbi]
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- Noun:
- a dead body that has been brought back to life by a supernatural force
- (voodooism) a spirit or supernatural force that reanimates a dead body
- a god of voodoo cults of African origin worshipped especially in West Indies
- someone who acts or responds in a mechanical or apathetic way
- several kinds of rum with fruit juice and usually apricot liqueur
Word Origin
- zombie
- zombie: [19] Zombie was originally the name of a snake-god in the voodoo cult of West Africa, and later of the Caribbean, and it comes from a West African language (it is related to Kongo nzambi ‘god’ and zumbi ‘fetish’). It was later applied to a reanimated corpse in the voodoo cult, and a ghoulish sense of humour transferred the English word in the 1930s to a ‘catatonically slow-witted person’.
- zombie (n.)
- 1871, of West African origin (compare Kikongo zumbi "fetish;" Kimbundu nzambi "god"), originally the name of a snake god, later with meaning "reanimated corpse" in voodoo cult. But perhaps also from Louisiana creole word meaning "phantom, ghost," from Spanish sombra "shade, ghost." Sense "slow-witted person" is recorded from 1936.
Example
- 1. As of press time , zombie delusions remain undiagnosed .
- 2. Have you ever witnessed a zombie workplace outbreak ?
- 3. Call on daryl to go spelunking in a zombie stomach .
- 4. A zombie parade passes through frankfurt , germany .
- 5. If so , how is your zombie story coming along ?