beastbeast /biːst/ ●○○ noun [countable] 
► see thesaurus at animal2 old-fashioned someone who is cruel or unpleasant:
You beast! Let go!3something of a particular type or that has a particular quality – usually used humorously SYN animal: A city at night is a very different beast.4the beast in somebody the part of someone’s character that makes them experience hatred, strong sexual feelings, violence etc
WORD ORIGINbeast
Origin:
1100-1200 Old French beste, from Latin bestiaEXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- I'm lucky that beast didn't bite my arm off.
- Philip has a real beast of a father.
- The El Niño weather pattern is an unpredictable beast.
- For this whole business of killing, whether killing beasts or killing men, is supposed to be fraught with danger.
- He had a good scientific understanding and quickly dismissed the beast.
- The beast also chased Etty Moorhen within an inch of her life.
- The striped markings enable the beast to become invisible against a wide range of backgrounds by day or night.
- The tribesmen assumed the names of beasts and in their rites wore animal masks.
- There are several images, which are clearly icons, showing isolated pillars with a pair of attendant heraldic beasts.
- They were thirsty and starving, vacant-eyed beasts with bellies bloated from hunger and protruding ribs.
THESAURUS
a living thing such as a dog, cow, or tiger, but not an insect, fish, or bird: · farm animals such as cows, sheep, and pigs· People are becoming more concerned about animal welfare.
an animal – used especially when describing a particular animal’s characteristics or when referring to animals generally: · The cheetah is a magnificent creature.· all the living creatures in the sea
an animal, especially a large or dangerous one: · To most people, lions are savage beasts.· a wild beast
an animal considered as one of a group of things that grow and then die, including humans and plants: · The only living things we saw were dogs and cats.
a group of animals whose members are similar and can breed together to produce young animals: · Seven species of birds of prey have been observed.
an animal that drinks milk from its mother’s body when it is young: · Humans, dogs, and whales are all mammals.
a living creature that has a backbone: · viruses that affect chickens, monkeys, and most other vertebrates
a living creature that does not have a backbone: · earthworms and other small invertebrates
WORD SETSaardvark, nounadder, nounAfghan, nounalley cat, nounalligator, nounalpaca, nounAlsatian, nounamphibian, nounamphibious, adjectiveangora, nounanimal, nounanteater, nounantelope, nounanthropoid, adjectiveantler, nounape, nounappaloosa, nounarachnid, nounarmadillo, nounasp, nounass, nounbaa, verbbaboon, nounbaby, nounbadger, nounbantam, nounbark, verbbark, nounbarnacle, nounbasset, nounbat, nounbay, nounbay, verbbay, adjectivebeagle, nounbear, nounbeast, nounbeast of burden, nounbeaver, nounbellow, verbbellow, nounbelly, nounbig cat, nounbig game, nounbighorn sheep, nounbilly goat, nounbiped, nounbison, nounbitch, nounbivalve, nounbleat, verbbloodhound, nounbloodstream, nounblow-hole, nounboa, nounboar, nounbobcat, nounbovine, adjectivebow-wow, nounboxer, nounbrainwave, nounbrindled, adjectivebristle, verbbronc, nounbronco, nounbrontosaurus, nounbrush, nounbuck, nounbuffalo, nounbull, nounbulldog, nounbullfrog, nounbullock, nounbull terrier, nounburro, nounburrow, nouncalf, nouncall, nouncalve, verbcamel, nouncanine, adjectivecanine, nouncarapace, nouncarcass, nouncaribou, nouncarnivore, nouncarthorse, nouncat, nouncattle, nouncaudal, adjectivecayman, nouncetacean, nounchameleon, nounchamois, nouncheetah, nounchestnut, nounchickadee, nounchicken, nounchihuahua, nounchimpanzee, nounchinchilla, nounchipmunk, nounchow, nounclaw, nouncloven hoof, nouncoat, nouncob, nouncobra, nouncocker spaniel, nouncold-blooded, adjectivecollie, nouncolouring, nouncolt, nouncomb, nounconnective tissue, nouncony, nouncoon, nouncopperhead, nouncorgi, nouncougar, nouncourtship, nouncow, nouncoyote, nouncoypu, nouncrest, nouncrocodile, nouncrop, verbcrustacean, nouncry, nouncub, nouncur, noundachshund, nounDalmatian, noundeer, nounden, noundentine, noundingo, noundinosaur, noundoe, noundog, noundolphin, noundomesticate, verbdonkey, noundormouse, noundorsal, adjectivedromedary, nounduckbilled platypus, nounearthworm, nounelephant, nounelk, nounentrails, nounermine, nounewe, nounexcreta, nounexcretion, nounfallopian tube, nounfallow deer, nounfang, nounfauna, nounfawn, nounfeed, nounfeeler, nounfeline, adjectivefeline, nounfemale, adjectivefemale, nounferal, adjectiveferret, nounfetlock, nounfieldmouse, nounfilly, nounfin, nounfleece, nounflipper, nounflying fox, nounfoal, nounfoal, verbfoetus, nounforefoot, nounforeleg, nounfox, nounfoxhound, nounfox terrier, nounFriesian, nounfrog, nounfrogspawn, nounfruit bat, nounfur, nounfurry, adjectivegarter snake, noungazelle, noungecko, noungeese, gelding, noungerbil, nounGerman shepherd, noungestation, noungiant panda, noungibbon, noungiraffe, noungnu, noungoat, noungolden retriever, noungopher, noungorilla, noungregarious, adjectivegreyhound, noungroundhog, nounground squirrel, noungrunt, verbguinea pig, nounhack, nounhackles, nounhairless, adjectivehamster, nounhare, nounhart, nounhaunch, nounhedgehog, nounheifer, nounhen, nounherbivore, nounherd, nounhermit crab, nounhibernate, verbhind, adjectivehind, nounhindquarters, nounhippo, nounhippopotamus, nounhock, nounhog, nounhoof, nounhorned, adjectivehorse, nounhound, nounhowl, verbhump, nounhusky, nounhyaena, nounhybrid, nounhyena, nounibex, nouniguana, nounimpala, nouninbred, adjectiveinbreeding, nouninsectivore, nouninterbreed, verbinvertebrate, nounjackal, nounjackrabbit, nounjaguar, nounjellyfish, nounJersey, nounkangaroo, nounkid, nounkoala, nounkookaburra, nounLabrador, nounlair, nounlamb, nounlemming, nounleopard, nounlion, nounlioness, nounlitter, nounlitter, verblizard, nounllama, nounlonghorn, nounlugworm, nounlynx, nounmale, nounmamba, nounmammal, nounmammary, adjectivemammoth, nounmandible, nounmandrill, nounmane, nounman-eater, nounmare, nounmarmoset, nounmarsupial, nounmarten, nounmastitis, nounmate, nounmate, verbmating, nounmaw, nounmenagerie, nounmew, verbmiaow, verbmice, nounmigrant, nounmilk, verbmimic, verbmimic, nounmink, nounmole, nounmollusc, nounmongoose, nounmongrel, nounmonkey, nounmoo, verbmoose, nounmoult, verbmountain goat, nounmountain lion, nounmouse, nounmule, nounmuskrat, nounmussel, nounmustang, nounmutt, nounmuzzle, nounnag, nounnanny goat, nounnative, adjectivenative, nounnest, nounnewt, nounnocturnal, adjectiveocelot, nounoctopus, nounoffspring, nounoink, interjectionokapi, nounOld English sheepdog, nounomnivore, nounomnivorous, adjectiveopossum, nounorangutang, nounotter, nounox, nounpachyderm, nounpack, nounpad, nounpair, nounpanda, nounpanther, nounparasite, nounparasitic, adjectivepaw, nounpaw, verbpeccary, nounpedigree, adjectivepeke, nounPekinese, nounpelt, nounPersian cat, nounpest, nounpheasant, nounpiebald, adjectivepied, adjectivepig, nounpiggy, nounpiglet, nounpincer, nounpine marten, nounpinto, nounpit bull terrier, nounpit pony, nounplankton, nounplate, nounplatypus, nounpointer, nounpolar bear, nounpolecat, nounpolyp, nounpony, nounpooch, nounpoodle, nounporcupine, nounporker, nounporpoise, nounPortuguese man-of-war, nounpossum, nounpouch, nounprairie dog, nounprance, verbpredation, nounpredator, nounpredatory, adjectiveprehensile, adjectiveprey, nounprickle, nounpride, nounprimate, nounproboscis, nounprocreate, verbprowl, verbpterodactyl, nounpuffin, nounpug, nounpullet, nounpuma, nounpup, nounpurebred, adjectivepurr, verbpussy, nounpython, nounquack, verbquadruped, nounquill, nounrabbit, nounrabbit warren, nounrabid, adjectiveraccoon, nounracoon, nounram, nounrat, nounrattler, nounrattlesnake, nounravening, adjectivereindeer, nounreptile, nounretract, verbretriever, nounrhesus monkey, nounrhino, nounrhinoceros, nounroan, nounrodent, nounroe deer, nounrottweiler, nounruminant, nounruminate, verbrump, nounrunt, nounrut, nounsable, nounsac, nounsalamander, nounsausage dog, nounscavenge, verbschool, nounscorpion, nounseal, nounsea lion, nounseashell, nounsea urchin, nounsemen, nounserpent, nounsetter, nounsex, verbshed, verbsheep, nounsheepdog, nounShetland pony, nounshire horse, nounshrew, nounshrimp, nounSiamese cat, nounsilkworm, nounsimian, adjectivesire, nounskin, nounskunk, nounsloth, nounslug, nounsnail, nounsnake, nounsnakebite, nounsnarl, verbsniffer dog, nounsnout, nounsocial, adjectivesow, nounspaniel, nounspawn, verbspawn, nounsperm whale, nounsponge, nounspoor, nounspore, nounspringbok, nounsquid, nounsquirrel, nounstag, nounstallion, nounstarfish, nounSt Bernard, nounsteed, nounsteer, nounsting, nounstinger, nounstoat, nounstomach, nounstray, adjectivestray, nounstud, nounsucker, nounsuckle, verbsuckling, nounswine, nountadpole, nountail, nountame, adjectivetame, verbtapeworm, nountapir, nounteat, nountentacle, nounterrapin, nounterrier, nounterritorial, adjectiveterritory, nountiger, nountigress, nountoad, nountom, nountomcat, nountooth, nountortoise, nountortoiseshell, nountrumpet, verbtrunk, nountufted, adjectiveturtle, nountusk, nountyrannosaurus, nounudder, nounuterus, nounvampire bat, nounvent, nounvermin, nounvertebrate, nounvicuña, nounviper, nounvivarium, nounvixen, nounvole, nounwag, verbwallaby, nounwallow, verbwalrus, nounwarm-blooded, adjectivewarren, nounwarthog, nounwater buffalo, nounwater rat, nounwater vole, nounweasel, nounweevil, nounwhale, nounwhelk, nounwhelp, nounwhelp, verbwhinny, verbwhippet, nounwhisker, nounwild boar, nounwildcat, nounwildebeest, nounwildfowl, nounwinkle, nounwithers, nounwolf, nounwolfhound, nounwombat, nounwool, nounyak, nounyap, verbyap, nounyearling, nounyelp, nounYorkshire terrier, nounyoung, nounzebra, nounzoologist, nounzoology, nounzygote, noun
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY A city at night is a very different beast.COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADJECTIVE
A city at night is a very different beast.· The big beasts of medical ethics have been locking horns, the rationalists against the religious as usual.· But big-beast politicians aren't wholly normal people.· This jungle is suddenly full of big beasts.
· But Hawksmoor is a different beast.· A health standard based on cost is a different beast.· But it seems a different beast altogether now that I can ride on top.
· In 1963, too, the sperm-whale kill reached its peak, claiming about thirty thousand of the great beasts.· The great beast landed with both feet in the water, right on top of the little fellow swimming there.· Oliver's hell hounds are on his trail for sure, great slavering paisley-patterned beasts with saucer-sized eyes and claws that catch.· Right from childhood, he had recognized that these great beasts had potential for almost limitless friendship and loyalty.· The ground still shook in time with the footsteps of the great beast.· And when the great beast stopped to answer a call of nature, I felt as if I was sitting astride Mount Pinatubo.
· Fitzormonde, despite his travels, had never seen such a huge beast.· The huge beast strained at the great iron chain clasped to the collar round its neck.· He edged past the dragon and hurried away, the huge beast turning with difficulty to follow him.
· What a scheming, clever, manipulative little beast.· Only little beasts, animals, say things like that!
· Some letters were pictures in themselves, containing miniature dragons, wyverns, centaurs and other mythical beasts.· Legendary in concept, this depiction of Barbarossa at Gelnhausen portrays him in the company of mythical beasts.
· We dumped all the junk the Luftwaffe keeps stuffing into these poor beasts.· I shot the poor beast in the head to save it from its misery, and me from mine.· The poor beast flew round and round above my head in considerable distress.· In a few minutes the poor beast dropped dead.· My horse got a spike in the belly, poor beast.· From time to time the poor beasts lowered their heads to the thick grass verges, and the men let them graze.· And there weren't too many deer, so the poor beasts didn't starve through mismanagement and maladministration!· A weightier cause is the burden the poor beast was carrying already.
· There were chariots driven by demons, pulled by strange winged beasts.· The second was the sight of strange mythological beasts and demonic gargoyles which surrounded and surmounted the gateway.· I never tire of watching this strange beast that lurches like a turkey and sways its neck like a swan.
· A wild beast does not at once become tame, or a new breed arise in an instant.· Later the slave was recaptured and sentenced to die in the arena facing a wild beast.· Such rules serve to distinguish further basic social categories: friends from enemies, domestic animals from wild beasts, and so on.· I am really a wild beast, you know.· The Kurd entered the first of them cautiously, sniffing for wild beasts, then beckoned them in.· That she had doubted him. Wild beasts would not have stopped him.· Innocent llamas and other wild beast roam the screen, helpless, bleating and afraid.
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRYPHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES
1written an animal, especially a large or dangerous one- But see, up on the shelf we had the beast in our fridge too.
- Others were fighting to shut the gate, pushing against the sheer bodyweight of the beasts in the gateway.
- Then Herb, Junior, had taken his bow and arrow and wounded one of the beasts in the hindquarters.
- But Men persecuted us and other birds of prey like us were poisoned, trapped and shot.
- In fact, the only bird of prey I ever saw hovering over the park was a kestrel.
- Many birds of prey regurgitate pellets which contain the indigestible remains of their prey, including much of the bone.
- Meanwhile, the larger birds of prey were tucking into things like mice, rats, chicks and rabbits.
- Most of Britain's birds of prey are only now recovering from this long persecution.
- On 24 January he identified six new species of birds of prey - two of which came from the Galapagos.
- The diurnal birds of prey and the mammalian predators consistently have the highest rates of mandibular and maxillary breakage.
- You will have to pass beasts, fierce beasts of prey, and they are all that you will see.
► see thesaurus at animal2 old-fashioned someone who is cruel or unpleasant:
You beast! Let go!3something of a particular type or that has a particular quality – usually used humorously SYN animal: A city at night is a very different beast.4the beast in somebody the part of someone’s character that makes them experience hatred, strong sexual feelings, violence etc