animal
[an-uh-muh l]
- 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.
- any such living thing other than a human being.
- a mammal, as opposed to a fish, bird, etc.
- the physical, sensual, or carnal nature of human beings; animality: the animal in every person.
- an inhuman person; brutish or beastlike person: She married an animal.
- thing: A perfect job? Is there any such animal?
Show More
- of, relating to, or derived from animals: animal instincts; animal fats.
- pertaining to the physical, sensual, or carnal nature of humans, rather than their spiritual or intellectual nature: animal needs.
Show More
Origin of animal
1300–50; Middle English (< Old French) < 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 -al1; E adj. also directly < Latin animālis
Synonyms
See more synonyms for animal on Thesaurus.com5. monster. 8. fleshly, physical; beastly, brutal.
Synonym study
2. 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. 8. See carnal.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for animal
Contemporary Examples
He then provides some insight into his psyche - complete with Animal House reference.
Not sure if you noticed, but 2014 has been a banner year for animal robots.
A 64-year-old animal trainer, he makes the six-hour round-trip every two weeks to submit to her and explore his sexuality.
But does this means that animal ownership continues in heaven?
Christmas Vacation was the last production from the original company that started with Animal House.
Dinner at Nitehawk Cinema: ‘Christmas Vacation’ and a Beer in a Pear TreeRich Goldstein
December 12, 2014
Historical Examples
With a sharp piece of flint he cut the fur of the animal's back.
Ancient ManHendrik Willem van Loon
Do you make up your mind beforehand that if the animal should kill you, it is all right?
Weighed and WantingGeorge MacDonald
It is this that distinguishes this class of foods from animal foods.
Woman's Institute Library of Cookery, Vol. 2Woman's Institute of Domestic Arts and Sciences
This is the animal page of the Sunday Star and Cadge is in a hurry for it, to do the obbligato.
The Bacillus of BeautyHarriet Stark
Unless they say something like that the spirit of the animal killed might do them some mischief.
The Trail BookMary Austin
animal
- 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 animalsRelated prefix: zoo-
- any mammal, esp any mammal except man
- a brutish person
- facetious a person or thing (esp in the phrase no such animal)
- Australian informal a very dirty car
Show More
- of, relating to, or derived from animalsanimal products; an animal characteristic
- of or relating to the physical needs or desires; carnal; sensual
Show More
Word Origin
C14: from Latin animal (n), from animālis (adj) living, breathing; see anima
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for animal
n.
early 14c. (but rare before c.1600, and not in KJV, 1611), "any living creature" (including humans), from Latin animale "living being, being which breathes," neuter of animalis "animate, living; of the air," from anima "breath, soul; a current of air" (see animus, and cf. deer). Drove out the older beast in common usage. Used of brutish humans from 1580s.
Show More
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
animal
(ăn′ə-məl)- A multicellular organism with membranous cell walls of the kingdom Animalia, differing from plants in certain typical characteristics such as capacity for locomotion, nonphotosynthetic metabolism, pronounced response to stimuli, restricted growth, and fixed bodily structure.
- An animal organism other than a human, especially a mammal.
- A human considered with respect to his or her physical, as opposed to spiritual, nature.
Show More
- Relating to, characteristic of, or derived from an animal or animals.
- Relating to the physical as distinct from the spiritual nature of humans.
Show More
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
animal
[ăn′ə-məl]
- 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.
Show More
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.