beast
[ beest ]
/ bist /
noun
any nonhuman animal, especially a large, four-footed mammal.
the crude animal nature common to humans and the lower animals: Hunger brought out the beast in him.
a cruel, coarse, filthy, or otherwise beastlike person.
a live creature, as distinguished from a plant: What manner of beast is this?
the beast,
the Antichrist. Rev. 13:18.
Origin of beast
1175–1225; Middle English
be(e)ste < Old French
beste (French
bête) < Latin
bēstia
synonym study for beast
1. See
animal.
OTHER WORDS FROM beast
beast·like, adjectiveWords nearby beast
bearish,
bearpaw,
bearskin,
bearwood,
beas,
beast,
beast epic,
beast of burden,
beast of prey,
beastie,
beastings
Example sentences from the Web for beast
British Dictionary definitions for beast
beast
/ (biːst) /
noun
any animal other than man, esp a large wild quadruped
savage nature or characteristics
the beast in man
a brutal, uncivilized, or filthy person
verb
(tr) military slang, slang, mainly British
to punish or torture (someone) in a manner that involves excessive physical exercise
Word Origin for beast
C13: from Old French
beste, from Latin
bestia, of obscure origin