animal

[an-uh-muhl]

noun

1. any member of the kingdom Animalia, comprising multicellular organisms that have a well-defined shape and usually limited growth, can move voluntarily, actively acquire food and digest it internally, and have sensory and nervous systems that allow them to respond rapidly to stimuli: some classification schemes also include protozoa and certain other single-celled eukaryotes that have motility and animallike nutritional modes.

2. any such living thing other than a human being.

3. a mammal, as opposed to a fish, bird, etc.

4. the physical, sensual, or carnal nature of human beings; animality.

   the animal in every person.

5. an inhuman person; brutish or beastlike person.

   She married an animal.

   Synonyms: monster

6. thing.

   A perfect job? Is there any such animal?

adjective

1. of, relating to, or derived from animals.

   animal instincts; animal fats.

2. pertaining to the physical, sensual, or carnal nature of humans, rather than their spiritual or intellectual nature.

   animal needs.

   Synonyms: brutal, beastly, physical, fleshly

animal

/ ˈænɪməl /

noun

1. zoology any living organism characterized by voluntary movement, the possession of cells with noncellulose cell walls and specialized sense organs enabling rapid response to stimuli, and the ingestion of complex organic substances such as plants and other animals

2. any mammal, esp any mammal except man

3. a brutish person

4. facetious,  a person or thing (esp in the phrase no such animal )

5. informal,  a very dirty car

adjective

1. of, relating to, or derived from animals

   animal products

   an animal characteristic

2. of or relating to the physical needs or desires; carnal; sensual

animal

1. Any of the multicellular organisms belonging to the kingdom Animalia. All animals are eukaryotes, with each of their cells having a nucleus containing DNA. Most animals develop from a blastula and have a digestive tract, nervous system, the ability to move voluntarily, and specialized sensory organs for recognizing and responding to stimuli in the environment. Animals are heterotrophs, feeding on plants, other animals, or organic matter. The first animals probably evolved from protists and appeared during the Precambrian Era.

Other Word Forms

• animalic adjective
• animalian adjective
• nonanimal noun
• semianimal noun
• superanimal adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of animal¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English (from Old French ), from Latin, noun derivative (with loss of final vowel and shortening of ā ) of animāle, neuter of animālis “living, animate,” equivalent to anim(a) “air, breath” + -ālis; English adjective also directly from Latin animālis; -al ¹;

Word History and Origins

Origin of animal¹

C14: from Latin animal (n), from animālis (adj) living, breathing; see _anima

Synonym Study

Animal, beast, brute refer to sentient creatures as distinct from minerals and plants; figuratively, they usually connote qualities and characteristics below the human level. Animal is the general word; figuratively, it applies merely to the body or to animal-like characteristics: An athlete is a magnificent animal. Beast refers to four-footed animals; figuratively, it suggests a base, sensual nature: A glutton is a beast. Brute implies absence of ability to reason; figuratively, it connotes savagery as well: a drunken brute. See carnal.

Example Sentences

I quickly snuck back into my hideaway and stayed quiet, listening to the gnarled sounds of this massive animal grazing just feet away from me.

From Los Angeles Times

County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone pushed back on the notion that deer pose a fire hazard, telling the supervisor he believes the animals mitigate fire risks by eating vegetation.

From Los Angeles Times

"It was very hard, very raw, because animals you are with 24 hours a day and it wasn't easy."

From BBC

Campaigners want to ban the sale of catapults to under 18s, as young people are inflicting wildlife, animals and people with devastating injuries.

From BBC

Other critics of the law, including some animal charities, have argued it focused too heavily on individual breeds.

From BBC

Related Words

• beast 
• creature 
• pet 

When To Use

What does animal mean?

In the field of science, an animal is a living thing that meets specific requirements:

• It is made up of more than one cell.



• It has a well-defined shape and limited growth.



• It can move voluntarily.



• It can get its own food and digest it within itself.



• It has sensory and nervous systems that allow it to react to its environment.

This definition includes human beings. Outside of scientific usage, animal is used in several ways.Most commonly, an animal is a living being that meets the above requirements but is not a human being.An animal can be just a mammal, that is, an animal that has fur, gives birth, and produces milk. A dog is a mammal, for example, while a fish is not.Animal is also used to describe something that is related to or comes from an animal, such as animal fats (fats that come from an animal) or animal behavior, which is often separate from human behavior.Example: Scientists have discovered a new group of animals that live in the extreme depths of the Great Barrier Reef.