Topic: ANIMALS

Date:	1300-1400
Language:	Latin
Origin:	animalis 'having life', from anima 'soul'

animal
1 noun

an‧i‧mal1 S1 W1 See pronunciation table in "How to use dictionary" pages

[countable]

1HBA a living creature such as a dog or cat, that is not an insect, plant, bird, fish, or person:

furry little animals

wild/domestic/farm animals

cattle, sheep, and other domestic animals

The cosmetics have not been tested on animals.

Beth is an animal lover (=someone who likes animals).

2 any living creature that is not a plant or a person:

He can't stand cruelty to animals of any sort.

the animal welfare movement in Britain

3HBA any living creature, including people:

Man is a highly intelligent animal.

4 informal someone who behaves in a cruel, violent, or very rude way:

Football hooligans are just animals.

a (very/completely/entirely) different animal

informal something that is very different from the thing you have mentioned:

Writing e-mail is a very different animal from all other forms of writing.

informal someone who is interested in politics, in meeting other people etc:

He is simply not a social animal.