animal

  1. Noun.  In scientific usage, a multicellular organism that is usually mobile, whose cells are not encased in a rigid cell wall (distinguishing it from plants and fungi) and which derives energy solely from the consumption of other organisms (distinguishing it from plants).
  2. Noun.  In non-scientific usage, any member of the kingdom Animalia other than a human being.
  3. Noun.  In non-scientific usage, any land-living vertebrate (i.e. not birds, fishes, insects etc).
  4. Noun.  (figuratively) A person who behaves wildly; a bestial, brutal, brutish, cruel, or inhuman person.
  5. Noun.  (informal) A person of a particular type.
  6. Adjective.  Of or relating to animals.
  7. Adjective.  Raw, base, unhindered by social codes.
  8. Adjective.  Pertaining to the spirit or soul; relating to sensation or innervation.
  9. Adjective.  (slang, Ireland) Excellent.

This is an unmodified, but possibly outdated, definition from Wiktionary and used here under the Creative Commons license. Wiktionary is a great resource. If you like it too, please donate to Wikimedia.

This entry was last updated on RefTopia from its source on 3/20/2012.