beast Definition

beast
noun

1. Any large wild animal, especially a four-footed one. Compare beast of burden.

Example: the beast of Exmoor
2. colloq
A cruel brutal person.
Thesaurus: brute, degenerate, fiend, animal, swine, lout, hun, satyr, libertine, lecher; Antonym: angel, saint.
3. colloq
A difficult or unpleasant person or thing.
Example: The catch on this bracelet is a beast to undo

Idiom: bring out the beast in someone

To cause them to behave brutishly; to expose the worst side of their nature.

Etymology: 13c as beste: French, from Latin bestia.