n.
- a living organism which is typically distinguished from a plant by feeding on organic matter, having specialized sense organs and nervous system, and being able to move about and to respond rapidly to stimuli.
▸a mammal, as opposed to a bird, reptile, fish, or insect.
- a very cruel, violent, or uncivilized person.
- a particular type of person or thing:
a political animal.
adj.
- relating to or characteristic of animals.
- of the flesh rather than the spirit or intellect:
animal lust.
- Biology denoting the pole or extremity of an embryo containing the more active cytoplasm. The opposite of vegetal.
Derivative
- animalization
or animalisation n. - animalize
or animalise v.
Etymology
ME: from L., based on animalis ‘having breath’ from anima ‘breath’.