DictionaryAI

animal

A-nuh-muhl/ˈæ.nə.məl/UKA-ni-muhl/ˈæ.nɪ.məl/

Pluralanimals

9 meanings of animal

Practice

  1. 1
    any creaturenouncountable
    Any living creature that can move and eat, such as a dog, bird, fish or insect, usually not counting people.

    We saw a strange animal by the river, but it ran off before we could take a photo.

    Wild animals usually run away when people get too close.

    UsageCalling someone an animal can sound rude when you mean how they behave.

    Similarcreature, beast

  2. 2
    relating to creaturesadjective
    Having to do with animals or coming from them.

    The farm sells animal products like milk and eggs.

    She studies animal behavior at the university.

    Similarbestial

    Oppositevegetable

    Note
  3. 3
    nouncountable
    In everyday talk, a creature like a dog, cow or lion, usually not a bird, fish or insect.

    At the zoo, my little sister only wanted to see the animals, not the birds or the fish.

    On our boat trip we saw plenty of fish, but the only animal was a seal lying on the rocks.

    UsagePeople often say animals and birds as different groups. Say mammal to be exact.

    Similarmammal, beast

    Note

Practice

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Origins

Meanings 1, 3–5, 7

It comes from Latin, from a word meaning "breath" or "spirit." It replaced older English words for animal.

Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 2 facts

  • The noun animal derives from Latin, ultimately from anima, meaning breath or spirit. en.wiktionary.org
  • Animal displaced older English words for animals. en.wikipedia.org
Meanings 2, 6, 8

It comes from Latin animālis, from a word meaning "breath" or "spirit."

Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 1 fact

  • Animal derives from Latin animālis, ultimately from a word meaning "breath" or "spirit." en.wiktionary.org