animal

Plural

animals

Noun

Noun

×

A word that identifies a person, place, thing, or idea.

1. 1.A multicellular organism of the kingdom Animalia that is usually mobile, with cells that are not encased in a rigid cell wall (distinguishing them from plants and fungi) and derives energy solely from the consumption of other organisms.

   • Humans, like other animals, need air to breathe and food to eat.

2. 2.Any member of the kingdom Animalia other than a human.

   • A mouse is not a large animal.
   • You shouldn't keep a wild animal as a pet.

3. 3.A person who behaves wildly; a bestial, brutal, brutish, cruel, or inhuman person.

   • She speculated that things could deteriorate later: “I think they’re scared of the English, which is fair; we are animals.”

4. 4.A higher animal; an animal related to humans.

   • I spent my summer studying the animals and birds of the two islands.
   • When he's hungry my toddler opens his mouth like an animal instead of asking us to feed him.
   • Birds are as popular as animals in the toy kingdom, especially pigeons, owls and domestic hens.

Adjective

Adjective

×

A word that describes or modifies a noun or pronoun.

1. 1.Raw, base, unhindered by social codes.

   • But the line also distills pop culture’s big commandment about sex to its animal essence: If you’re not screwing somebody, you’re nobody.

2. 2.Pertaining to the spirit or soul; relating to sensation or innervation.

   • To explain what activated the flesh, ‘animal spirits’ were posited, superfine fluids which shuttled between the mind and the vitals, conveying messages and motion.

3. 3.Excellent.(slang)

4. 4.Of or relating to animals.

   • He looked down at the tangled wet hair, the wild, bare, animal shoulders.
   • The season has been most unfavourable to animal life; and I, who am merely animal, have suffered much by it.
   • The body was covered with soft hair, and though undoubtedly human, it was very animal in its instincts and ways.

Overall

Common· #780

By learning goal

Everyday conversation

Uncommon

General reading & writing

Common

Academic

Rare

Literature

Rare

Synonyms

• beast
• creature