mammal

[ mam-uhl ]

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.

mammal

/ 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

mammal

/ 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.

Derived Forms

• ˈmammal-ˌlike, adjective
• mammalian, adjectivenoun

Other Words From

• mammal·like adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of mammal¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of mammal¹

C19: via New Latin from Latin mamma breast

Example Sentences

Timor-Leste has one of the world’s highest concentrations of marine mammals.

From BBC

Brain tissue is among the most energetically costly in the body, and as a result, larger-brained mammals require more energy to support brain growth and maintenance.

From Science Daily

In most mammals, including humans, red hair is caused by mutations that affect a protein called Mc1r.

From Science Magazine

However, its impact extends beyond the intended weed, grass and plant targets, negatively affecting the biological systems in mammals, as demonstrated by its persistence in brain tissue and its role in inflammatory processes.

From Science Daily

Their research sheds new light on both the rapid expansion of humans throughout the Americas and the extinction of large ice age mammals.

From Science Daily

Related Words

• beast
• creature
• vertebrate