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Definition of animal
1 : any of a kingdom (Animalia) of living things including many-celled organisms and often many of the single-celled ones (such as protozoans) that typically differ from plants in having cells without cellulose walls, in lacking chlorophyll and the capacity for photosynthesis, in requiring more complex food materials (such as proteins), in being organized to a greater degree of complexity, and in having the capacity for spontaneous movement and rapid motor responses to stimulation
2a : one of the lower animals (see 3lower 3) as distinguished from human beingsb : mammal; broadly : vertebrate
3 : a human being considered chiefly as physical or nonrational; also : this nature
4 : a person with a particular interest or aptitude a political animal He's a party animal.
5 : matter, thing the theater … is an entirely different animal — Arthur Miller; also : creature 1c
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Examples of animal in a Sentence
the animals in the zoo
the plants and animals of the forest
She loves all kinds of animals.
Fish, birds, insects, reptiles, mammals, and human beings are all animals.
You're all behaving like a bunch of animals.
Recent Examples of animal from the Web
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Most attempts at cloning other animal species—to date cloning has succeeded with sheep, mice, cattle, goats, cats, and pigs—have not fared much better.
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Others celebrated notable DPRK buildings, local sports heroes and popular animals and plants.
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As animal trainers prepped Winnie for being released back to nature, her flippers waved constantly.
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And in the UK, where keeping owls is legal, animal advocates pleaded with the public to keep their pets in large aviaries, not small cages like Hedwig’s.
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For The Golden Menagerie, that meant going to the museum of Musée de la Chasse et de la Nature in Paris to study rare and extinct animals of the past, which in turn influenced her designs.
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Once ashore, these four-limbed vertebrates, called tetrapods, branched into an impressive range of animals: amphibians, reptiles, dinosaurs, birds and mammals.
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Similarly, Brie's wide-eyed, open-hearted characters are both overachievers and underdogs, clown ladies proffering their best balloon animals to a sometimes-uncaring world.
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In fossil bones, most of the material that existed while the animal was alive gets slowly replaced over time by minerals.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'animal'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Did You Know?
Latin anima means “breath” or “soul,” and animalis, the adjective that comes from it, means “having breath or soul.” An animal such as a cat or dog can be seen to breathe. Plants breathe too, by taking in certain gases from the atmosphere and releasing others. However, this process cannot be observed by the naked eye. So the noun animal, which comes from animalis, was borrowed from Latin for that group of living beings that breathe visibly.
Origin and Etymology of animal
Latin, from animale, neuter of animalis animate, from anima soul — more at animate
Other Zoology Terms
animal
Definition of animal
1 : of, relating to, resembling, or derived from animals animal instincts animal behavior
2a : of or relating to the physical or sentient as contrasted with the intellectual or rationalb : sensual, fleshly indulged his animal appetites
3 : of or relating to the animal pole of an egg or to the part from which ectoderm normally develops
Examples of animal in a Sentence
several different plant and animal species
milk, meat, and other animal products
People were shocked by the animal brutality of the attack.
Recent Examples of animal from the Web
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Animal events Take Your Dog to Work Day FRI Fifty percent discount on adoption fee of any dog one year old and up, 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Friday, Seattle Humane Society, 13212 S.E. Eastgate Way, Bellevue (425-641-0080 or seattlehumane.org).
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Environmental and animal rights groups cheered Brown's budget proposal as a necessary step to rein in a program the groups say needlessly kills thousands of animals in Oregon each year.
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There were no human or animal body fluids splashed on the floors, walls, or ceiling.
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Animal Head Wall Mounts - Real or fake, animal head wall mounts can be highly offensive to some people.
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Animal-loving guests can take the hypoallergenic dog on walks or runs while exploring Lynchburg.
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Frame grab from video of a public service announcement about an animal league facility produced by East Ridge High School students.
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Capitol Police officers, along with officials from the city’s animal control unit helped in rescuing the ducks.
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Zoo officials also determined within days of the event the reptiles didn't die from food issues, disease, infection or any human or animal predator.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'animal'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of animal
see 1animal
Synonym Discussion of animal
Other Zoology Terms
ANIMAL Defined for English Language Learners
animal
playDefinition of animal for English Language Learners
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: a living thing that is not a human being or plant
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: any living thing that is not a plant
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: a person who behaves in a wild, aggressive, or unpleasant way
animal
Definition of animal for English Language Learners
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: of or relating to animals
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: coming from the bodies of animals
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: of or relating to the body and not to the mind
ANIMAL Defined for Kids
animal
playDefinition of animal for Students
1 : any member of the kingdom of living things (as earthworms, crabs, birds, and people) that differ from plants typically in being able to move about, in not having cell walls made of cellulose, and in depending on plants and other animals as sources of food
2 : any of the animals lower than humans in the natural order the animals in the zoo
3 : mammal the birds and animals of the forest
Word Root of animal
The Latin word anima, meaning “breath” or “spirit,” gives us the root anim. Words from the Latin anima have something to do with having breath or spirit. An animal is a living creature that breathes and can move around on its own. To animate something is to give it breath or life. Someone magnanimous has a courageous spirit.
Medical Dictionary
Medical Definition of animal
1: any of a kingdom (Animalia) of living things including many-celled organisms and often many of the single-celled ones (as protozoans) that typically differ from plants in having cells without cellulose walls, in lacking chlorophyll and the capacity for photosynthesis, in requiring more complex food materials (as proteins), in being organized to a greater degree of complexity, and in having the capacity for spontaneous movement and rapid motor response to stimulation
2a: one of the lower animals as distinguished from human beingsb: mammal; broadly : vertebrate
animal
Medical Definition of animal
1: of, relating to, or derived from animals
2: of or relating to the animal pole of an egg or to the part from which ectoderm normally develops
Learn More about animal
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Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for animal Spanish Central: Translation of animal Nglish: Translation of animal for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of animal for Arabic speakers
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