any of several fleet black-and-white striped African equines
"The safari guide warned us to stay quiet so we wouldn't startle the zebras grazing near the riverbank."
Any of three species of genus Equus: E. grevyi, E. quagga, or E. zebra, all with black and white stripes and native to Africa.
"The endangered Grevy's zebra roams the acacia savannas of Kenya alongside its striped cousins."
In plain English: A zebra is a wild African animal with black and white stripes on its body.
"The zebra stood in the grass watching us approach."
Usage: Use the singular form when referring to a single animal but add an "s" for plural counts unless preceded by a number like one or two. This term specifically denotes African equines known for their distinctive striped coats rather than any other patterned horse breed.
The word zebra entered English in 1600 from Italian and Portuguese, where it originally meant "wild ass." Its roots trace back to Latin words for horse and wild, combining to describe a wild horse.