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. Rev. 13:18.

Origin

1175-1225; Middle English be(e)ste < Old French beste (French bête) < Latin bēstia

Related forms

beastlike, adjective

Synonyms

1. See animal. 3. cad, swine, pig, brute, savage, ogre, monster, barbarian.

Examples from the web for beast

But be consistent with country beast vs beast symbolisms.
Below you will see the struggle it takes for an entire team of fishermen to catch this gnarly beast.
How evolution had managed to craft such a unique beast presented a mystery as vast as the creature itself.
The beast was unlike anything the sailors had seen before.
Harder to discern is how the beast can do both at once.
In fact, this beast never seems more lifelike than when it's struggling.
When piecemeal the beast was sent, the engineers knew their place.
The sandcastle worm, as the beast is known, lives in a mineral shell.
Again, more than actually writing the whole beast from scratch, it's more important to understand how it works.
And the beast shall come forth surrounded by a roiling cloud of vengeance.

British Dictionary definitions for beast

beast

/biːst/

noun

any animal other than man, esp a large wild quadruped

savage nature or characteristics: the beast in man

a brutal, uncivilized, or filthy person

verb

(transitive) (military slang, slang, mainly Brit) to punish or torture (someone) in a manner that involves excessive physical exercise

Word Origin

C13: from Old French beste, from Latin bestia, of obscure origin

Word Origin and History for beast

c.1200, from Old French beste "animal, wild beast," figuratively "fool, idiot" (11c., Modern French bête), from Vulgar Latin *besta, from Latin bestia "beast, wild animal," of unknown origin. Used to translate Latin animal. Replaced Old English deor (see deer) as the generic word for "wild creature," only to be ousted 16c. by animal. Of persons felt to be animal-like in various senses from early 13c. Of the figure in the Christian apocalypse story from late 14c.

Slang definitions & phrases for beast

beast

noun

A cheap prostitute (esp WWII Armed forces)
(also beastie, beasty) An especially unattractive woman (1940s+ Teenagers)
Any woman whatever, but esp a young, attractive one (1960s+ Jazz musicians)
A crude or sexually aggressive male; animal
Anything regarded as difficult and misbegotten: But that is part of the beast that was created (1860s+)

beast in the Bible

This word is used of flocks or herds of grazing animals (Ex. 22:5; Num. 20:4, 8, 11; Ps. 78:48); of beasts of burden (Gen. 45:17); of eatable beasts (Prov. 9:2); and of swift beasts or dromedaries (Isa. 60:6). In the New Testament it is used of a domestic animal as property (Rev. 18:13); as used for food (1 Cor. 15:39), for service (Luke 10:34; Acts 23:24), and for sacrifice (Acts 7:42). When used in contradistinction to man (Ps. 36:6), it denotes a brute creature generally, and when in contradistinction to creeping things (Lev. 11:2-7; 27:26), a four-footed animal. The Mosaic law required that beasts of labour should have rest on the Sabbath (Ex. 20:10; 23:12), and in the Sabbatical year all cattle were allowed to roam about freely, and eat whatever grew in the fields (Ex. 23:11; Lev. 25:7). No animal could be castrated (Lev. 22:24). Animals of different kinds were to be always kept separate (Lev. 19:19; Deut. 22:10). Oxen when used in threshing were not to be prevented from eating what was within their reach (Deut. 25:4; 1 Cor.9:9). This word is used figuratively of an infuriated multitude (1 Cor. 15:32; Acts 19:29; comp. Ps. 22:12, 16; Eccl. 3:18; Isa. 11:6-8), and of wicked men (2 Pet. 2:12). The four beasts of Daniel 7:3, 17, 23 represent four kingdoms or kings.