# animal

Pronunciation: US say "A-nuh-muhl" /ˈæ.nə.məl/; UK say "A-ni-muhl" /ˈæ.nɪ.məl/

## Noun

1. A living creature that feeds on plants, other animals or their remains and can usually move, such as a mammal, bird, fish or insect; science includes humans, but everyday use usually does not.
   - Simple: Any living creature that can move and eat, such as a dog, bird, fish or insect, usually not counting people.
   - _Every animal in the reserve is tracked by researchers._
   - _The documentary explored how desert animals survive extreme heat._
3. In everyday use, a mammal such as a dog, lion or whale, or more loosely another larger backboned creature, as distinct from insects, worms and other simple life; birds and fish are often left out.
   - Simple: In everyday talk, a creature like a dog, cow or lion, usually not a bird, fish or insect.
   - _We spotted dozens of birds on the hike but not a single animal, not even a squirrel._
   - _My son sorted his toys into birds, fish, and animals, putting the whale beside the cow._
4. A person who behaves wildly or cruelly, in a brutal or inhuman manner.
   - Simple: A person who acts in a wild, cruel, or violent way.
   - _The dictator was an animal who showed no mercy to his enemies._
   - _After the riot, neighbors described the looters as animals._
5. A thing or matter of a particular kind, especially one seen as distinct from another. *(colloquial)*
   - Simple: A kind of thing or situation, often quite different from another.
   - _Coaching professionals is a different animal from teaching beginners._
   - _Live television and recorded shows are entirely different animals._
7. A person of a particular type, identified by a preceding adjective, as in 'party animal' or 'political animal.' *(colloquial)*
   - Simple: A person of a certain type, shown by the word in front, such as a party animal.
   - _As a born party animal, she's the last one to leave the club every Saturday night._
   - _The senator was a political animal who thrived on debate and strategy._

## Adjective

2. Relating to animals or derived from them.
   - Simple: Having to do with animals or coming from them.
   - _The factory processes animal fats into soap and candles._
   - _Veterinarians specialize in animal health and disease._
6. Raw and basic, driven by instinct rather than social rules.
   - Simple: Wild and natural, not controlled by rules of polite behavior.
   - _He attacked with an animal ferocity that shocked the onlookers._
   - _The film captures the animal passion between the two characters._
8. Extremely good; outstanding or impressive. *(slang, Ireland)*
   - Simple: Really good or impressive.
   - _The band's final set was absolutely animal._
   - _He said the new game is animal, the best release this year._

## Other meanings

- (adjective) Relating to the soul or life force, or to sensation and the nerves.

## Origin

**Meanings 1, 3–5, 7** — This word came through Middle English and Old French from Latin animal, which was originally the adjective animālis used as a noun, from anima meaning "breath, spirit." It displaced the native English words deor (source of modern "deer") and reother.
**Meanings 2, 6, 8** — This adjective came through Middle English from Latin animālis, from either anima ("breath, spirit") or animus. It was originally distinct from the noun but later merged with its attributive use.

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/animal (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).