animal

[an-uh-muh l] /ˈæn ə məl/

noun

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?

adjective

of, pertaining 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.

Origin

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

Related forms

animalic

[an-uh-mal-ik] /ˌæn əˈmæl ɪk/ (Show IPA), animalian

[an-uh-mey-lee-uh n, -meyl-yuh n] /ˌæn əˈmeɪ li ən, -ˈmeɪl yən/ (Show IPA), adjective

nonanimal, noun, adjective

semianimal, noun, adjective

superanimal, adjective

Synonyms

1, 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. 5. monster. 8. fleshly, physical; beastly, brutal. See carnal.

Examples from the web for animals

As malleable as clay, it's often modeled into little animals and vegetables.
Along the bottom of the fence, closely spaced pickets keep out small animals.
You'll spend your days on activities that help preserve the rare native plants and animals on the island.
In general, the last month has been mostly about watching our plants and animals grow.
All animals have special needs that need to be met in order to live with us.
Several leading cosmetics companies have quietly stopped testing products on animals.
Some scientists are trying to do the same thing with animals.
With the genetic hardiness of buffaloes and the tastiness of beef, the beefalo provides the best of both animals.
Moose aren't the only non-human animals with a taste for alcohol, though.
Paleontologists have long been fascinated by bizarre structures on prehistoric animals.

British Dictionary definitions for animals

animal

/ˈænɪməl/

noun

(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 animals related prefix zoo-

any mammal, esp any mammal except man

a brutish person

(facetious) a person or thing (esp in the phrase no such animal)

(Austral, informal) a very dirty car

adjective

of, relating to, or derived from animals: animal products, an animal characteristic

of or relating to the physical needs or desires; carnal; sensual

Word Origin

C14: from Latin animal (n), from animālis (adj) living, breathing; see anima

Word Origin and History for animals

animal

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.

adj.

late 14c., from animal (n.). Animal rights is attested from 1879; animal liberation from 1973. Animal magnetism originally (1784) referred to mesmerism.

animals in Medicine

animal an·i·mal (ān'ə-məl)
n.

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.

adj.

Relating to, characteristic of, or derived from an animal or animals.
Relating to the physical as distinct from the spiritual nature of humans.

animals in Science

animal

(ān'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.

Slang definitions & phrases for animals

animal

noun

A brutal or aggressive person, esp one given to excessive sexuality or violence (1940s+ Army & students)

animals in the Bible

an organized living creature endowed with sensation. The Levitical law divided animals into clean and unclean, although the distinction seems to have existed before the Flood (Gen. 7:2). The clean could be offered in sacrifice and eaten. All animals that had not cloven hoofs and did not chew the cud were unclean. The list of clean and unclean quadrupeds is set forth in the Levitical law (Deut. 14:3-20; Lev. 11).