Main Entry: beast

Pronunciation: \ˈbēst\

Function: noun

Etymology: Middle English beste, from Anglo-French, from Latin bestia

Date: 13th century

1 a : a four-footed mammal as distinguished from a human being, a lower vertebrate, and an invertebrate b : a lower animal as distinguished from a human being c : an animal as distinguished from a plant d : an animal under human control
2 : a contemptible person
3 : something formidably difficult to control or deal with