zebra

noun

1. a wild African mammal of the horse family, covered in black and white stripes, that lives in herds on grasslands

   A2

   countable

   • "We saw a zebra at the zoo."A2
   • "Zebras use their stripes to confuse predators when they run together in a herd."B1
   • "Each zebra has a unique stripe pattern, much like a human fingerprint."B2

2. in medicine, an informal term for a rare disease or unexpected diagnosis; from the saying 'When you hear hoofbeats, think horses, not zebras'

   C1

   informal

   • "Medical students are taught not to chase zebras when a common illness explains the symptoms."C1