from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Animal \An"i*mal\, a. [Cf. F. animal.]
1. Of or relating to animals; as, animal functions.
[1913 Webster]
2. Pertaining to the merely sentient part of a creature, as
distinguished from the intellectual, rational, or
spiritual part; as, the animal passions or appetites.
[1913 Webster]
3. Consisting of the flesh of animals; as, animal food.
[1913 Webster]
{Animal magnetism}. See {Magnetism} and {Mesmerism}.
{Animal electricity}, the electricity developed in some
animals, as the electric eel, torpedo, etc.
{Animal flower} (Zool.), a name given to certain marine
animals resembling a flower, as any species of actinia or
sea anemone, and other Anthozoa, hydroids, starfishes,
etc.
{Animal heat} (Physiol.), the heat generated in the body of a
living animal, by means of which the animal is kept at
nearly a uniform temperature.
{Animal spirits}. See under {Spirit}.
{Animal kingdom}, the whole class of beings endowed with
animal life. It embraces several subkingdoms, and under
these there are Classes, Orders, Families, Genera,
Species, and sometimes intermediate groupings, all in
regular subordination, but variously arranged by different
writers.
Note: The following are the grand divisions, or subkingdoms,
and the principal classes under them, generally
recognized at the present time:
{Vertebrata}, including Mammalia or Mammals, Aves or
Birds, Reptilia, Amphibia, Pisces or Fishes,
Marsipobranchiata (Craniota); and Leptocardia
(Acrania). {Tunicata}, including the {Thaliacea}, and
{Ascidioidea} or Ascidians. {Articulata} or {Annulosa},
including Insecta, Myriapoda, Malacapoda, Arachnida,
Pycnogonida, Merostomata, Crustacea (Arthropoda); and
Annelida, Gehyrea (Anarthropoda).
{Helminthes} or {Vermes}, including Rotifera,
Ch[ae]tognatha, Nematoidea, Acanthocephala, Nemertina,
Turbellaria, Trematoda, Cestoidea, Mesozea.