animal en · NOUN · etymology 1
Pronunciation
- (US) audio
- /ˈænɪməl/ (Canada, General-American)
- /ˈɛnəməl/ (New-Zealand)
- /ˈænəməl/ (Canada, General-American)
- /ˈæːnɪməl/ (India)
- /ˈænəməl/ (Australia, General-South-African)
- /ˈænɪməl/ (Received-Pronunciation)
- /ˈanɪməl/ (British, Northern-England, Scotland, Southern, Standard, Wales)
- /ˈenɪməl/ (India, dialectal)
- /ˈənɪməl/ (India)
Etymology
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₂enh₁- Proto-Indo-European *-mos Proto-Indo-European *h₂enh₁mos Proto-Italic *anamos Latin animus Latin anima Proto-Indo-European *h₂el- Proto-Indo-European *-is Proto-Indo-European *h₂élisder.? Proto-Italic *-ālis Latin -ālis Latin animālisnom. Latin animalder. Old French animalbor. Middle English animal English animal From Middle English animal, from Old French animal, from Latin animal, a nominal use of the adjective form animāle, neuter of animālis, from anima (“breath, spirit”). Displaced native English deer (outside puristic usage) in the general animal sense, from Middle English der, deor (“animal”), from Old English dēor, related to German Tier (“animal”), Dutch dier, Danish dyr, Swedish djur etc. Displaced also rother (“horned animal, esp. ox”, now obsolete), from Middle English rother, reother (“a bovine”), from Old English hrīþer, hrȳþer.
Meanings
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A multicellular organism of the kingdom Animalia that is usually mobile, with cells that are not encased in a rigid cell wall (distinguishing them from plants and fungi) and derives energy solely from the consumption of other organisms.
Humans, like other animals, need air to breathe and food to eat.
It cannot be denied it [the 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.
1650, Thomas Browne, “Of the Cameleon”, in Pseudodoxia Epidemica: […], 2nd edition, London: […] A[braham] Miller, for Edw[ard] Dod and Nath[aniel] Ekins, […], →OCLC, 3rd book, page 133:Near-synonym: critter
- (broadly) Any member of the kingdom Animalia other than a human.
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(broadly) A higher animal; an animal related to humans.
When he's hungry my toddler opens his mouth like an animal instead of asking us to feed him.
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(broadly, colloquial) A higher animal; an animal related to humans. ▸ A tetrapod; a land-dwelling nonhuman vertebrate.
Ancient nomads, wishing to ward off the evening chill and enjoy a meal around a campfire, had to collect wood and then spend time and effort coaxing the heat of friction out from between sticks to kindle a flame. With more settled people, animals were harnessed to capstans or caged in treadmills to turn grist into meal.
2013 July-August, Henry Petroski, “Geothermal Energy”, in American Scientist, volume 101, number 4:
- (broadly) A higher animal; an animal related to humans. ▸ A warm-blooded animal; a mammal or bird.
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(broadly) A higher animal; an animal related to humans. ▸ A non-human mammal.
“Long Story Short,” a new animated series from Raphael Bob-Waksberg with art by Lisa Hanawalt, trades the talking animals for kvetching humans.
2025 August 21, Robert Ito, “The Makers of ‘BoJack Horseman’ Take Family Matters by the Reins”, in The New York Times, New York, N.Y.: The New York Times Company, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 21 Aug 2025:I spent my summer studying the animals and birds of the two islands.
Birds are as popular as animals in the toy kingdom, especially pigeons, owls and domestic hens.
1971, Gwen White, Antique Toys And Their Background, page 54:
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(derogatory, figuratively) A person who behaves wildly; a bestial, brutal, brutish, cruel, or inhuman person.
My students are animals.
Own me, I'll let you play the role I'll be your animal
2019, “Bad Guy”, Finneas O'Connell, Billie Eilish O'Connell (lyrics), performed by Billie Eilish:She speculated that things could deteriorate later: “I think they’re scared of the English, which is fair; we are animals.”
2024 July 14, Rachel Hall, quoting Jodie White, “‘I’ve never seen owt like it’: England fans in Benidorm in high spirits before Euro final”, in The Guardian, →ISSN:
- (derogatory, figuratively) A person who overeats or eats rapidly and noisily.
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(informal) A person of a particular type specified by an adjective.
He's a political animal.
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(informal) Matter, thing.
a whole different animal
no such animal
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| animals | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Coordinates
Deriveds
go the entire animal · animalist · animalicide · animalivore · koranimal · advice animal · animal dye · antianimal · animal shelter · party animal · animalish · animal trafficking · animal fat · animal print · Typhonic animal · draft animal · animal soul · plush animal · animal registry · farm animal · multianimal · animal trypanosomiasis · animalkind · manimal · animal control · animal activist · draught animal · animal rights · animalhood · animal kingdom · balloon animal · microanimal · animal unit · interanimal · animal feed · funny animal · animalivorous · animal flower · companimal · small animal · animal cracker · animal experimentation · stuffed animal · animal fries · working animal · animal protein factor · animal welfare · animal husbandry · animal control officer · animal magnetism · plant-animal · planimal · wereanimal · service animal · animalian · animal starch · animal black · compound animal · animal liberation · scape-animal · companion animal · animal-like · therapy animal · animal reminder disgust · animal cabinet · animal product · anipal · animal hoarding · rare animal · animally · stock animal · assistance animal · animal science · animal companion · animal tester · political animal · animal heat · animalesque · animaloid · animal coat · wild animal · power animal · animal testing · moss animal · ambassador animal · animal house · animal African trypanosomiasis · animal-assisted therapy · eat like an animal · spirit animal · intraanimal · animal food · Animal Jammer · animal dentistry · emotional support animal · pack animal · Set animal · animal sanctuary · animal charcoal · zoo animal · animalism · animal welfarist · robo-animal · nonanimal · intensive animal farming · wheel animal · Typhonian animal · animalistic
Descendants
animal · animalo · anamol · animol · nim · animol · animalo
Hypernyms
organism · creature · living thing · organism
Hyponyms
insectivore · male animal · fowl · bug · omnivore · youngling · invertebrate · carnivore · bird · pet · vertebrate · mollusc · arachnid · creepy-crawly · reptile · livestock · mammal · amphibian · herbivore · folivore · fish · frugivore · female animal · insect · crustacean · arthropod
Relateds
animus · animalcule · :Category:Animals · anima · animalier · Animalia · animate
Synonyms
hog · gormandizer · beast · pig · greedyguts · cormorant · Homer Simpson · helluo · critter · glutton · creature · gourmand · guttle · belly-god · beast · animal · animal · monster · critter · gannet · epicure · buzgut · deer · beastie · slow belly · big back · brute · trencherman · gorger · dog · savage
Translations (627)
tab гьяйванат (organism) · ru животи́на (organism other than human) · grc ζῷον (organism) · af dier (organism) · sdc animàri (organism other than human) · cmn 野獸 /野兽 (person who behaves wildly) · sh звије̑р (organism other than human) · nn dyr (organism) · iu ᓂᕐᔪᑦ (organism) · pt animal (organism other than human) · sc fiadu (organism) · br mil (organism) · hi हैवान (organism) · eu animalia (organism) · zdj inyama (organism other than human) · ceb hayop (organism) · xto lu (organism) · ttj ekisoro class 7 (organism other than human) · lt gyvūnas (organism) · ks جانور (organism other than human) · mrw binatang (organism) · srn meti (organism) · io animalo (organism) · non dýr (organism) · zu isilwane (organism) · tl hayop (organism) · my တိရစ္ဆာန် (organism) · ru живо́тное (person who behaves wildly) · nb dyr (organism) · pau charm (organism) · it bestia (person who behaves wildly) · ur جانْوَر (organism) · fo djór (organism) · nl dier (organism) · ttj ekisoro class 7 (organism) · jct tuvar (organism) · el ζώο (organism) · yi חיה (organism) · aii ܚܲܝ݇ܘܬܵܐ (organism) · ru зверь (organism) · ru скоти́на (person who behaves wildly) · gu પ્રાણી (organism) · vep živat (organism) · ht bèt (organism other than human) · bg хайва́нин (person who behaves wildly) · kk айуан (organism) · eo animalo (organism) · su sato (organism other than human) · sl zver (organism other than human) · xh isilwanyana (organism) · bni ebwele (organism) · sdc animàri (organism) · ht animal (organism other than human) · te జంతువు (organism) · he חַיָּה (organism other than human) · tr töm (organism) · mr हैवान (person who behaves wildly) · ms binatang (person who behaves wildly) · ki nyamũ (organism other than human) · hu állat (organism) · sk zviera (organism other than human) · prs جَانْوَر (organism) · rm biestg (organism) · ab аԥстәы (organism) · sh живо̀тиња (person who behaves wildly) · dng дунву (organism) · ks جانور (organism) · pt animal (organism) · ltg dzeivnīks (organism) · mos rũnga (organism other than human) · abq псауышвхӏа (organism) · jje 중셍 (organism) · os хайуан (organism) · fr bête (organism other than human) · oc animal (organism) · cs zvíře (organism other than human) · ilo ayop (organism) · ovd diuor (organism) · it bestia (organism other than human) · afb حيوان (organism) · ba хайуан (organism other than human) · ar حَيَوَان (organism other than human) · vi động vật (organism other than human) · ky жаныбар (organism) · tly həyvon (organism) · or ପ୍ରାଣୀ (organism) · ovd krytyr (organism) · ms بيناتڠ (person who behaves wildly) · io bestio (organism other than human) · zne gna (organism) · gd ainmhidh (organism) · sh živòtinja (organism) · my အကောင် (organism other than human) · tby haiwani (organism) · id hewan (organism other than human) · hsb zwěrjo (organism) · ps حيوان (organism) · bar Viech (organism) · sc animàri (person who behaves wildly) · nv naaldlooshii (organism other than human) · uk звір (organism other than human) · njo-jgl shiruru (organism other than human) · grc θηρίον (organism other than human) · afb حَيْوَانْ (organism other than human) · hi मृग (organism) · ht zannimo (organism other than human) · cu звѣрь (organism other than human) · enm beste (organism other than human) · eu animalia (person who behaves wildly) · sga anmandae (organism) · ps ژوي (organism) · ca bèstia (person who behaves wildly) · sh зве̑р (organism) · kk аң (organism) · sl zver (organism) · aii ܚܲܝ݇ܘܬܵܐ (person who behaves wildly) · ms ستوا (organism other than human) · ik aġnasalluq (organism) · sh zvȇr (organism other than human) · de Unmensch (person who behaves wildly) · ttt хьэйвон (organism) · pa حَیوان (organism) · kk жануар (organism) · got 𐌳𐌹𐌿𐍃 (organism) · pa ਹੈਵਾਨ (organism other than human) · pa حَیوان (organism other than human) · ja けだもの (person who behaves wildly) · hi जंतु (organism other than human) · crh ayvan (organism) · aii ܚܲܝܘܵܐ (person who behaves wildly) · shi amuddr (organism) · ckb گیانەوەر (organism) · be звер (organism) · am እንሰሳ (organism) · kl uumasoq (organism other than human) · sh zvȇr (organism) · prg alni (organism other than human) · cu животьно (organism) · fi eläin (person who behaves wildly) · nus ley (organism) · ro animal (organism) · wrh gunal (organism) · lo ສັດ (organism) · yua ba’alche’ (organism other than human) · enm beste (organism) · ce акхаро (organism) · rsk жвирка (organism) · ang dēor (person who behaves wildly) · afb حَيْوَانْ (person who behaves wildly) · rm animal (organism) · sh zvijȇr (organism) · fo djór (organism other than human) · fo dýr (organism other than human) · sh живо̀тиња (organism other than human) · wmw nyama (organism) · sh živòtinja (organism other than human) · cs živočich (organism other than human) · ltg zviers (person who behaves wildly) · zea beêste (organism) · gur dũŋa (organism other than human) · zdj mnyama (organism other than human) · de Tier (organism) · naq xamanin (organism other than human) · vo laidavamaf (organism) · ru тварь (organism) · ky айбан (organism) · hi जानवर (person who behaves wildly) · ms satwa (organism) · is dýr (organism other than human) · pt animal (person who behaves wildly) · haw holoholona (organism) · tr hayvan (organism other than human) · ka ცხოველი (organism) · sq shtazë f kafshë gje (organism) · xal адусн (organism) · ms haiwan (organism) · cs zvíře (person who behaves wildly) · sw mnyama (organism other than human) · el αγροίκος (person who behaves wildly) · tr dingil (person who behaves wildly) · pl zwierzę (organism other than human) · ml മൃഗം (organism) · ady былым (organism) · it animale (organism other than human) · kk хайуан (organism other than human) · pnb حیوان (organism other than human) · or ଜନ୍ତୁ (organism) · sh živòtinja (person who behaves wildly) · ko 생물 (organism) · es animal (person who behaves wildly) · mel benateang (organism) · wo mala (organism) · pl zwierzę (organism) · rgn animêl (organism) · pt bicho (organism) · ro fiară (person who behaves wildly) · sl žival (organism) · zza heywan (diq) (organism other than human) · sc animali (person who behaves wildly) · ota حیوان (person who behaves wildly) · zza heywan (diq) (organism) · ro jivină (organism other than human) · alu waisi'a-ni aasi (organism) · ln ebwele (organism) · sh skȍt (person who behaves wildly) · xmf შურდგუმილი (organism) · kqr dudupot (organism) · eo bruto (person who behaves wildly) · ny nyama (organism) · fi eläin (organism) · az heyvan (organism) · cic nannalhpooba' (organism other than human) · krl elätti (organism) · xal мал (organism) · krl žiivatta (organism) · vi thú vật (organism) · kg bulu (organism) · my တိရစ္ဆာန် (organism other than human) · dar мицӏираг (organism) · el ζώο (person who behaves wildly) · nl beest (organism) · sh zvijȇr (organism other than human) · bn জানোয়ার (organism) · sw nunda (person who behaves wildly) · sux 𒁕𒁕𒀯 (organism) · uk твари́на (organism other than human) · rcf zanimo (organism) · ban buron (organism) · ro animal (organism other than human) · ceb mananap (organism) · br aneval (organism) · sh skȍt (organism) · ko 동물 (organism) · csm halé·-to- (organism) · el κτήνος (organism other than human) · alt амыт (organism) · kab lḥiwan (organism) · da bæst (person who behaves wildly) · izh elokas (organism) · wuu 動物 /动物 (organism) · mt annimal (organism) · tr hayvan (person who behaves wildly) · li bies (organism) · unm aèsës (organism other than human) · rhg januar (organism) · pl zwierzę (person who behaves wildly) · wrh wambi (organism) · he חַיָּה (organism) · ha dabba (organism) · syl ꠎꠣꠘꠥꠀꠞ (organism) · cu животъ (organism) · izh looma (organism) · ang dēor (organism) · be жывёліна (organism) · sk zviera (organism) · goh tior (organism) · yue 動物 /动物 (organism) · cdo 動物 /动物 (organism) · ak aboa (organism) · fa-ira حِیْوان (person who behaves wildly) · amu kió' (organism) · tyv аң (organism) · da dyr (organism) · kmr canewer (organism) · ang nīeten (organism) · vro elläi (organism) · ia bestia (organism) · ale algax (organism) · nhn yolqui (organism) · teg nyama (organism) · el ζώο (organism other than human) · kaa ań (organism) · sh хајван (person who behaves wildly) · fro beste (organism other than human) · ro fiară (organism) · lv dzīvnieks (organism) · ms حيوان (organism other than human) · hy կենդանի (organism) · cs živočich (organism) · sv djur (organism) · mi kararehe (organism) · chr ᎦᎾᏝᎢ (organism) · ckt гынник (organism) · av хӏайван (organism) · mk ѕвер (organism other than human) · ms binatang (organism) · la bestia (organism) · sq kafshëror (person who behaves wildly) · aa ála (organism) · bg звяр (organism other than human) · ga ainmhí (organism) · lv dzīvnieks (person who behaves wildly) · ltg žeivots (organism) · ne जनावर (organism) · ja 獣 (organism other than human) · ce дийнат (organism) · sh звије̑р (organism) · fa-ira حِیْوان (organism) · ivv viniay (organism) · ach lee (organism) · gl animal (person who behaves wildly) · th สัตว์ (organism) · id binatang (organism other than human) · fr bête (organism) · bg живо́тно (organism other than human) · prs حَیْوَان (organism) · izh loonto (organism) · rsk жвирина (organism) · ota حیوان (organism) · zza ganwer (organism) · kn ಪ್ರಾಣಿ (organism) · ca animal (organism) · itl girnik (organism) · mr जनावर (person who behaves wildly) · sc animali (organism other than human) · ta மிருகம் (organism) · sl žival (organism other than human) · prg zwīrs (organism) · dz སེམས་ཅན (organism) · sa मृग (organism) · cic naalhpooba (organism other than human) · shi lbhimt (organism) · uz hayvon (organism) · be жывёла (organism) · br aneval (person who behaves wildly) · es bestia (organism) · pt bicho (organism other than human) · ban segaon (organism) · udm пудо (organism) · mfe zanimo (organism) · fy dier (organism) · mdf ракша (organism) · as জন্তু (organism other than human) · bm bagan (organism) · tt хайван (organism) · is óargadýr (person who behaves wildly) · yo ẹran (organism) · ru живо́тное (organism) · itl tuva (organism) · sh зве̑р (person who behaves wildly) · ar حَيَوَان (person who behaves wildly) · ln nyama (organism) · es animal (organism other than human) · ms haiwan (organism other than human) · de Bestie (person who behaves wildly) · kk хайуан (organism) · crh canavar (organism) · ja 生き物 (organism) · arz حيوان (organism) · la animal (organism) · mr प्राणी (organism) · bn জানোয়ার (organism other than human) · fr animal (organism) · ltg dzeivnīks (person who behaves wildly) · aii ܚܲܝܘܵܐ (organism) · sh живо̀тиња (organism) · chr ᎡᎿᎢ (organism) · yai ҳайвон (organism) · za doenghduz (organism) · ms حيوان (organism) · hrx Dier (organism) · jv kewan (organism) · my သတ္တဝါ (organism) · ru тварь (organism other than human) · sah кыыл (organism) · tr hayvan (organism) · ru скоти́на (organism) · pap bestia (organism) · niv ӈа (organism) · eo besto (person who behaves wildly) · bg живо́тно (organism) · ml മൃഗം (person who behaves wildly) · jje 중승 (organism) · ja 動物 (organism) · ckb حەیوان (person who behaves wildly) · atv анъ (organism) · sh звије̑р (person who behaves wildly) · cmn 動物 /动物 (organism) · rhg focú (organism) · el θηρίο (organism other than human) · nci yolcatl (organism) · is dýr (person who behaves wildly) · tg ҳайвон (organism) · so xayawaano (organism) · hi जिनावर (organism) · mg biby (organism) · ca bèstia (organism other than human) · evn бэюн (organism) · it bestia (organism) · he חַיָּה (person who behaves wildly) · ru животи́на (organism) · myv ракша (organism) · ar حَيَوَان (organism) · sc animàri (organism other than human) · ug ھايۋان (organism) · sat ᱡᱟᱱᱣᱚᱨ (organism) · he בַּעַל חַיִּים (organism other than human) · alu waisi'a-ni hanua (organism) · qu uywa (organism) · sh zvijȇr (person who behaves wildly) · mi kararehe (organism other than human) · rue жывина (organism) · ko 동물 (organism other than human) · kix ùh (organism) · ckb ئاژەڵ (organism other than human) · ml ജന്തു (organism other than human) · bor barögö (organism) · sdc animàri (person who behaves wildly) · tn phologolo (organism) · lv zvērs (person who behaves wildly) · fa-ira جانْدار (organism other than human) · gl besta brava (person who behaves wildly) · xh isilo (organism) · id satwa (organism other than human) · pa ਹੈਵਾਨ (organism) · ast animal (organism) · kum гьайван (organism other than human) · mi kīrehe (organism) · eu animalia (organism other than human) · alt тынарлык (organism) · ckb حەیوان (organism other than human) · ms binatang (organism other than human) · hak 動物 /动物 (organism) · kl uumasoq (organism) · aii ܗܲܝܘܵܢ (person who behaves wildly) · sh зве̑р (organism other than human) · ms satwa (organism other than human) · ja 生物 (organism other than human) · evn бэйңэ (organism) · da væsen (organism other than human) · ik nirrun (organism) · tk haýwan (organism) · et loom (organism) · alu waisi'a (organism) · ky аң (organism) · ht zannimo (organism) · si සතා (organism) · sah харамай (organism) · ba аң (organism other than human) · izh itikka (organism) · hi पशु (organism) · kac dusat (organism) · rue быдло (organism) · ru зверь (person who behaves wildly) · esu ungungssit (organism) · am እንስሳ (organism) · ca animal (person who behaves wildly) · sk živočích (organism other than human) · vi thú vật (organism other than human) · gez አርዌ (organism) · sw mnyama (organism) · km សត្វ (organism) · hi जनावर (organism) · hu állat (person who behaves wildly) · sa प्राणी (organism) · zza cınawer (organism) · kjh аң (organism) · cmn 動物 /动物 (organism other than human) · mr जनावर (organism) · ilo animal (organism) · wa biesse (organism other than human) · ang nīeten (organism other than human) · cs zvíře (organism) · hi हैवान (person who behaves wildly) · eo besto (organism other than human) · ar وَحْش (person who behaves wildly) · hi हैवान (organism other than human) · xh burhalarhume (organism) · ckb گیانلەبەر (organism) · or ଜନ୍ମୀ (organism) · es animal (organism) · pdt Tia (organism) · dsb zwěrje (organism) · fa-ira جانْوَر (organism) · gld бэюн (organism) · nog анъ (organism) · sh ско̏т (organism) · sh zvȇr (person who behaves wildly) · os цӕрӕгой (organism) · cu звѣрь (organism) · ru живо́тное (organism other than human) · rup pravdã (organism) · tyv амытан (organism) · as জন্তু (organism) · fy bist (organism) · zku pardu (organism) · uk твари́на (organism) · mn амьтан (organism) · fr bête (person who behaves wildly) · fo dýr (organism) · aii ܚܲܝܘܵܐ (organism other than human) · hil mananap (organism) · ia animal (organism) · ady псэушъхь (organism) · nl beest (person who behaves wildly) · pi jīvī (organism) · gd beathach (organism) · el κτήνος (person who behaves wildly) · dng харвани (organism) · grc κτήνος (organism other than human)