Animal Definition

ănə-məl

animals

noun

animals

Any of a kingdom (Animalia) of eukaryotes generally characterized by a multicellular body, the ability to move quickly and obtain food, specialized sense organs, and sexual reproduction.

Webster's New World

Any such organism other than a human being, esp. a mammal or, often, any four-footed creature.

Webster's New World

A person who behaves in a bestial or brutish manner.

American Heritage

A brutish, debased, or inhuman person.

Webster's New World

A human considered with respect to his or her physical nature, as opposed to rational or spiritual nature.

American Heritage

Synonyms:

Antonyms:

Antonyms:
mineral
plant

adjective

Relating to, characteristic of, or derived from an animal or animals, especially when not human.

Animal cells; animal welfare.

American Heritage

Of, like, or derived from animals.

Webster's New World

Relating to the physical as distinct from the rational or spiritual nature of people.

Animal instincts and desires.

American Heritage

Physical rather than mental or spiritual; specif., sensual, gross, bestial, etc.

Webster's New World

Of or relating to animals.

Animal instincts.

Wiktionary

Synonyms:

idiom

the animal

animal nature; animality
it's the animal in him

Webster's New World

Other Word Forms of Animal

Noun

Singular:

animal

Plural:

animals

Idioms, Phrasal Verbs Related to Animal

the animal

Origin of Animal

From Middle English animal, from Old French animal, from Latin animal, a nominal use of an adjective from animale, neuter of animalis, from anima (“breath, spirit”). Displaced native Middle English deor, der (“animal”) (from Old English dēor (“animal”)), Middle English reother (“animal, neat”) (from Old English hrīþer, hrȳþer (“neat, ox”)).

From Wiktionary
From Latin animalis, from either anima (“breath, spirit”) or animus. Originally distinct from the noun, it became associated with attributive use of the noun and is now indistinguishable from it.

From Wiktionary
Middle English from Latin from animāle neuter of animālis living from anima soul anə- in Indo-European roots

From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition