animal Definition

animal
noun

1a. zool.
Any member of the kingdom of organisms that are capable of voluntary movement, have specialized sense organs that allow rapid response to stimuli, and lack chlorophyll and cell walls;
Thesaurus: beast, living creature, living thing, mammal, fish, crustacean, amphibian, vertebrate, invertebrate, wild animal, domestic animal.
1b. Any of these excluding human beings.
2. Someone who behaves in a rough uncivilized way.

Thesaurus: monster, beast, brute, savage.
3. colloq
A person or thing.
Example: This new multimedia PC is a completely different animal
Form: an altogether different animal (usually)

adj

1. Belonging or relating to, from or like, an animal.

Example: free of animal fat
Thesaurus: bestial, beastly, brutish, feral, savage, piggish, wild.
2. Relating to physical desires; brutal; sensual.

Example: She found it hard to control her animal passions
Thesaurus: corporeal, physical, bodily, carnal, fleshly, instinctive, sensual, bestial.

Etymology: 14c: Latin, from anima breath.