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The definition of an animal is a member of the kingdom Animalia, and is typically characterized by a multicellular body, specialized sense organs, voluntary movement, responses to factors in the environment and the ability to acquire and digest food.

(noun)

A horse, lion and human are each an example of an animal.

See animal in Webster's New World College Dictionary

noun

any of a kingdom (Animalia) of eukaryotes generally characterized by a multicellular body, the ability to move quickly and obtain food, specialized sense organs, and sexual reproduction
any such organism other than a human being, esp. a mammal or, often, any four-footed creature
a brutish, debased, or inhuman person
Informal a person, thing, concept, etc. thought of as a kind or type: today's athlete is another animal altogether

Origin: L, living being < anima, animus, breath, air, life principle, soul < IE base *an(e)-, to breathe, exhale > Gr anemos, Sans anilas, wind, breath, OE antha, excitement, anger

adjective

of, like, or derived from animals
physical rather than mental or spiritual; specif., sensual, gross, bestial, etc.

Related Forms:

animally adverb

See animal in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun

A multicellular organism of the kingdom Animalia, differing from plants in certain typical characteristics such as capacity for locomotion, nonphotosynthetic metabolism, pronounced response to stimuli, restricted growth, and fixed bodily structure.
An animal organism other than a human, especially a mammal.
A person who behaves in a bestial or brutish manner.
A human considered with respect to his or her physical, as opposed to spiritual, nature.
A person having a specified aptitude or set of interests: “that rarest of musical animals, an instrumentalist who is as comfortable on a podium with a stick as he is playing his instrument” (Lon Tuck).

adjective

Relating to, characteristic of, or derived from an animal or animals: animal fat.
Relating to the physical as distinct from the spiritual nature of people: animal instincts and desires.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English

Origin: , from Latin

Origin: , from animāle

Origin: , neuter of animālis, living

Origin: , from anima, soul; see anə- in Indo-European roots

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