beast
[ beest ]
/ bist /
noun
any nonhuman animal, especially a large, four-footed mammal.
the crude animal nature common to humans and the lower animals: Hunger brought out the beast in him.
a cruel, coarse, filthy, or otherwise beastlike person.
a live creature, as distinguished from a plant: What manner of beast is this?
the beast, the Antichrist. Revelation 13:18.
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Origin of beast
First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English be(e)ste, from Old French beste (French bête ), from Latin bēstia
synonym study for beast
1. See animal.
OTHER WORDS FROM beast
beastlike, adjectiveWords nearby beast
bear the brunt, bear up, bear with, bearwood, Beas, beast, beast epic, beastie, beastings, beastly, beast of burden
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020
Example sentences from the Web for beast
British Dictionary definitions for beast
beast
/ (biːst) /
noun
any animal other than man, esp a large wild quadruped
savage nature or characteristicsthe beast in man
a brutal, uncivilized, or filthy person
verb
(tr) military slang, slang, mainly British to punish or torture (someone) in a manner that involves excessive physical exercise
Word Origin for beast
C13: from Old French beste, from Latin bestia, of obscure origin
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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