animal

noun
UK: /ˈænɪml/
US: /ˈænɪml/

  1. A living thing that is not a plant or human.

    1. My pet is an animal, so I take care of it every day. [ ] [ ]
    2. The zoo had a variety of animals, including lions, tigers and bears in their habitats. [ ] [ ]

  2. Any creature other than a human being, often used to refer to mammals and other vertebrates.

    1. The dog is a friendly animal, always happy to see people. [ ] [ ]
    2. Scientists study animal behavior to understand the complex interactions within ecosystems. [ ] [ ]

Synonyms

beast creature
animal adjective

  1. Relating to or characteristic of animals; bestial; not human in character or behavior.

    1. The animal instinct kicked in, and I ran away. [ ] [ ]
    2. His animal-like reaction to the insult was really surprising for everybody. [ ] [ ]

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "animal" in English means: A living thing that is not a plant or human., Any creature other than a human being, often used to refer to mammals and other vertebrates..

The phonetic transcription of "animal" is /ˈænɪml/ in British English and /ˈænɪml/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "animal": beast, creature.

Example usage of "animal": "My pet is an animal, so I take care of it every day.". More examples on the page.