mammal

[mam-uh l] /ˈmæm əl/

noun

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.

Origin

1820-30; as singular of Neo-Latin Mammalia neuter plural of Late Latin mammālis of the breast. See mamma², -al¹

Related forms

mammallike, adjective

Examples from the web for mammals

The area is prime habitat for many birds and mammals.
The slow-moving mammals secret world is revealed in this video.
They have shown that all human beings are incredibly similar genetically-much more so than other species of large mammals.
Smaller mammals include raccoons and opossums that hunt for small fish and invertebrates.
Coconut palms tower overhead, sheltering colorful birds and water mammals.
Dolphins are sea mammals that are part of the cetacean family, which also includes whales and porpoises.
Swimming with dolphins is an enjoyable way to learn more about these sea mammals by actually getting into the water with them.
They are unique among seagoing mammals in their herbivorous nature.
It then goes on to infect other mammals, including rats.
In many mammals the development of normal vision requires exposure to light during a critical period following birth.

British Dictionary definitions for mammals

mammal

/ˈmæməl/

noun

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

Derived Forms

mammalian (mæˈmeɪlɪən) adjective, noun
mammal-like, adjective

Word Origin

C19: via New Latin from Latin mamma breast

Word Origin and History for mammals

mammal

1826, anglicized form of Modern Latin Mammalia (1773), coined 1758 by Linnaeus for the class of mammals, from neuter plural of Late Latin mammalis "of the breast," from Latin mamma "breast," perhaps cognate with mamma.

mammals in Science

mammal

(mām'əl)
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.

mammals in Culture

mammals definition

A class of vertebrates characterized by the production of milk by the females and in most cases, by a hairy body covering. Most mammals give live birth to their young. Human beings are mammals.