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- Dictionaryanimal/ˈanɪml/
noun
- 1. a living organism that feeds on organic matter, typically having specialized sense organs and nervous system and able to respond rapidly to stimuli: "wild animals adapt badly to a caged life"
adjective
- 1. relating to or characteristic of animals: "the evolution of animal life"
- 2. relating to or denoting the pole or extremity of an embryo that contains the more active cytoplasm in the early stages of development.
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Learn the origin, synonyms, and usage of the word animal, which can be a noun or an adjective. An animal is any living thing that can move, breathe, and respond to stimulation, or a human being with a particular interest or aptitude.
A1. something that lives and moves but is not a human, bird, fish, or insect: wild / domestic animals. Both children are real animal lovers. Surveys show that animal welfare has recently become a major concern for many schoolchildren. B2. anything that lives and moves, including people, birds, etc.:
The word animal comes from the Latin noun animal of the same meaning, which is itself derived from Latin animalis 'having breath or soul'. The biological definition includes all members of the kingdom Animalia. In colloquial usage, the term animal is often used to refer only to nonhuman animals.
Animal definition: any member of the kingdom Animalia, comprising multicellular organisms that have a well-defined shape and usually limited growth, can move voluntarily, actively acquire food and digest it internally, and have sensory and nervous systems that allow them to respond rapidly to stimuli.
- Overview
- The animal kingdom
Animals are multicellular eukaryotes whose cells are bound together by collagen. Animals dominate human conceptions of life on Earth because of their size, diversity, abundance, and mobility. The presence of muscles and mobility is one of the primary characteristics of the animal kingdom.
What are the two major groups of animals?
The two major groups of animals are vertebrates and invertebrates. Vertebrates have backbones, and invertebrates do not.
When did animals first appear?
Animals first appeared in the Ediacaran Period, about 635 million to 541 million years ago, as soft-bodied forms that left traces of their bodies in shallow-water sediments.
What are the basic functional systems of animals?
Animals evolved from unicellular eukaryotes. The presence of a nuclear membrane in eukaryotes permits separation of the two phases of protein synthesis: transcription (copying) of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) in the nucleus and translation (decoding) of the message into protein in the cytoplasm. Compared to the structure of the bacterial cell, this ...
Definitions of animal. noun. a living organism characterized by voluntary movement. synonyms: animate being, beast, brute, creature, fauna. see more. adjective. marked by the appetites and passions of the body. “ animal instincts” synonyms: carnal, fleshly, sensual. physical. involving the body as distinguished from the mind or spirit.
Learn the meaning of animal as a noun and an adjective, with different categories and translations. Find out how to use animal in sentences and expressions, and see related words and grammar tips.
