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noun Uncommon

Zeppelin

ZEH-puh-lihn

Zeppelin (noun) means a large, cigar-shaped rigid airship, especially the type built in Germany in the early 20th century. Example: “The zeppelin drifted silently over the crowd before docking at its mooring tower.”

noun
1
A large, cigar-shaped rigid airship, especially the type built in Germany in the early 20th century.
"The zeppelin drifted silently over the crowd before docking at its mooring tower."
"Passengers on the early zeppelins crossed the Atlantic in style, if not in speed."

How to use Zeppelin

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA large rigid airship, the classic hydrogen-filled "blimp" shape from early aviation history.

Common pairings
a zeppelin airship the Hindenburg zeppelin

Word forms

Zeppelins plural

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Test yourself on “Zeppelin” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The _____ drifted silently over the crowd before docking at its mooring tower.

Etymology

Named after Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin, the German who developed these rigid airships in the early 1900s.

Origin: German · First attested 1900

Class of 1900 Zeppelin joined the language around 1900.
See the full Class of 1900 →

Rhymes for Zeppelin

See all rhymes for Zeppelin →

Frequently asked questions

What does “Zeppelin” mean?

The word “Zeppelin” means a large, cigar-shaped rigid airship, especially the type built in Germany in the early 20th century. In plain terms, a large rigid airship, the classic hydrogen-filled "blimp" shape from early aviation history.

How do you pronounce “Zeppelin”?

“Zeppelin” is pronounced ZEH-puh-lihn (/ˈzɛ.pə.lɪn/ in IPA).

How do you use “Zeppelin” in a sentence?

Here is “Zeppelin” used in a sentence: “The zeppelin drifted silently over the crowd before docking at its mooring tower.”

What part of speech is “Zeppelin”?

“Zeppelin” is a noun.

Where does the word “Zeppelin” come from?

The word “Zeppelin” dates back to around 1900 and comes from German. Named after Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin, the German who developed these rigid airships in the early 1900s.

Is “Zeppelin” a common word?

“Zeppelin” is an uncommon word in modern English.

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