mammal

American  

[mam-uhl] / ˈmæm əl /

noun

1. any vertebrate of the class Mammalia, having the body more or less covered with hair, nourishing the young with milk from the mammary glands, and, with the exception of the egg-laying monotremes, giving birth to live young.

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mammal British  

/ ˈmæməl, mæˈmeɪlɪən /

noun

1. any animal of the Mammalia, a large class of warm-blooded vertebrates having mammary glands in the female, a thoracic diaphragm, and a four-chambered heart. The class includes the whales, carnivores, rodents, bats, primates, etc

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mammal Scientific  

/ măm′əl /

1. Any of various warm-blooded vertebrate animals of the class Mammalia, whose young feed on milk that is produced by the mother's mammary glands. Unlike other vertebrates, mammals have a diaphragm that separates the heart and lungs from the other internal organs, red blood cells that lack a nucleus, and usually hair or fur. All mammals but the monotremes bear live young. Mammals include rodents, cats, dogs, ungulates, cetaceans, and apes.

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Other Word Forms

• mammal-like adjective
• mammalian adjective
• mammallike adjective

Etymology

Origin of mammal

First recorded in 1820–30; as singular of New Latin Mammalia, neuter plural of Late Latin mammālis “of the breast”; equivalent to mamma ² + -al ¹

Compare meaning

How does mammal compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• marsupial vs. mammal

Example Sentences

"Research has shown that chalk stream salmon are genetically unique and irreplaceable. They play a vital role in the ecosystem, supporting insects, birds, mammals, and other river life," the trust said.

From BBC

Most mammals provide extended care for their young.

From Science Daily

In most large mammals, deeper voices are expected because the larynx typically grows larger as body size increases.

From Science Daily

The findings suggest these highly social fish are capable of a sophisticated cognitive process known as 'contingency testing,' a level of intelligence more commonly associated with marine mammals such as dolphins.

From Science Daily

Very few dinosaurs show evidence of this feature, although birds, which are living descendants of dinosaurs, have them, as do mammals.

From Science Daily

Related Words

• beast
• creature
• vertebrate