animal
Origin of animal
synonym study for animal
OTHER WORDS FROM animal
an·i·mal·ic [an-uh-mal-ik], /ˌæn əˈmæl ɪk/, an·i·ma·li·an [an-uh-mey-lee-uhn, -meyl-yuhn], /ˌæn əˈmeɪ li ən, -ˈmeɪl yən/, adjectivenon·an·i·mal, noun, adjectivesem·i·an·i·mal, noun, adjectivesu·per·an·i·mal, adjectiveWords nearby animal
MORE ABOUT ANIMAL
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.
Where does animal come from?
The first records of the term animal come from the 1300s. It ultimately comes from the Latin animālis, meaning “living,” or “animate.” All animals are living things.
While scientists use animal to mean something very specific, in everyday speech, animal is used much more broadly. When someone acts rude, brutish, or even cruel, they might be described as acting like an animal, even though animals don’t do things with the intention to be mean to another animal. People also use the term animal to refer to anything that is very different from something else, as in I like cooking dinner, but cleaning up is a completely different animal.
Did you know … ?
What are some other forms related to animal?
- animalic (adjective)
- animalian (adjective)
- animalist (noun)
- animalistic (adjective)
- animalize (verb)
What are some synonyms for animal?
What are some words that share a root or word element with animal?
What are some words that often get used in discussing animal?
How is animal used in real life?
Animal is used in many different contexts, especially in the scientific fields. When used casually, it is primarily used to describe creatures, such as pets, or to describe human’s nature in a negative context.
Me seeing animal: hello
Me seeing human: hell no— 9GAG (@9GAG) December 15, 2018
if you spontaneously say “hey bud” when you see an animal of any sort. please rt
— cara giaimo (@cjgiaimo) July 18, 2018
I’m the last person to bully but have an animal instinct to protect and defend my family.
— Khloé (@khloekardashian) July 18, 2016
Try using animal!
Which of the following is NOT a synonym for animal?
A. boulder
B. beast
C. creature
D. pet