noun
menagerie
muh-NAD-zhuh-rih
noun
1
A collection of wild or exotic animals kept for display, especially historically by wealthy owners as a private forerunner to the modern zoo.
"The duke kept a menagerie of lions and peacocks on his estate."
"Visitors paid to see the travelling menagerie."
2
A varied, mixed group of people or things.
"The party guest list was a menagerie of artists, bankers, and old friends."
How to Use Menagerie
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA collection of animals on show, or loosely, any odd mixed bunch of things or people.
Common pairings
a menagerie of animals
private menagerie
Word Forms
menageries plural
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The duke kept a _____ of lions and peacocks on his estate.
Etymology
From French ménagerie, from ménager ("to keep house") — originally covering the care of household animals before narrowing to mean a collection of wild ones.