• (British, America) enPR: ăn'ĭməl, IPA: /ˈænɪməl/

animal (plural animals)

1. In scientific usage, a multicellular organism that is usually mobile, whose cells are not encased in a rigid cell wall (distinguishing it from plant and fungi) and which derives energy solely from the consumption of other organisms (distinguishing it from plant).

   A cat is an animal, not a plant. Humans are also animals, under the scientific definition, as we are not plants.

   • 1646, Thomas Browne, “Of the Cameleon”, in Pseudodoxia Epidemica: Or, Enquiries into Very Many Received Tenents, and Commonly Presumed Truths, London: Printed for Tho. Harper for Edvvard Dod, OCLC 838860010 ↗; Pseudodoxia Epidemica: Or, Enquiries into Very Many Received Tenents, and Commonly Presumed Truths. […], 2nd corrected and much enlarged edition, London: Printed by A. Miller, for Edw[ard] Dod and Nath. Ekins, […], 1650, OCLC 152706203 ↗, book 3, page 133 ↗:

     It cannot be denied it [the chameleon#English|chameleon] is (if not the moſt of any) a very abſtemious animall, and ſuch as by reaſon of its frigidity, paucity of bloud, and latitancy in the winter (about which time the obſervations are often made) will long ſubſist without a viſible ſuſtentation.

   Synonyms: beast, creature

2. In non-scientific usage, any member of the kingdom Animalia other than a human.

   Synonyms: beast

3. In non-scientific usage, any land-living vertebrate (i.e. not fish, insect, etc.).
4. (figuratively) A person who behaves wildly; a bestial, brutal, brutish, cruel, or inhuman person.

   My students are animals.

   Synonyms: brute, monster, savage

5. (informal) A person of a particular type.

   He's a political animal.

6. matter, thing.

   a whole different animal

animal (not comparable)

1. Of or relating to animals.

   animal instincts

   Synonyms: beastly, bestial

2. Raw, base, unhindered by social codes.

   animal passions

   Synonyms: animalistic, beastly, bestial, untamed, wild

3. Pertaining to the spirit or soul; relating to sensation or innervation.
   • 2003, Roy Porter, Flesh in the Age of Reason (Penguin 2004), page 47:

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

4. (slang, Ireland) Excellent

• French: animal
• German: tierisch
• Italian: animale
• Portuguese: animal
• Russian: звери́ный
• Spanish: animal

• Italian: animale
• Portuguese: animal
• Spanish: animal

• Italian: animale

1. A nickname given to people, especially wild people.

animal (plural animals)

1. (slang) A fan of Kesha, an American singer.