beast

UK: /ˈbiːst/ US: /bist/ ,(bēst)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

beast /bist/   n. [countable]

1. any nonhuman animal, esp. a large, four-footed mammal:
   the sounds of the beasts in the barn.
2. the crude nature common to humans and animals, esp. greed, lust, or rage:
   Seeing her with him just brought out the beast in me.
3. a cruel, coarse, or filthy person:
   He's always been a beast to her.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

beast  (bēst), n. 

1. any nonhuman animal, esp. a large, four-footed mammal.
2. the crude animal nature common to humans and the lower animals:
   Hunger brought out the beast in him.
3. a cruel, coarse, filthy, or otherwise beastlike person.
4. a live creature, as distinguished from a plant:
   What manner of beast is this?
5. Bible the beast, the Antichrist. Rev. 13:18.

• Latin bēstia
• Old French beste (French bête)
• Middle English be(e)ste 1175–1225

beast′like′, adj. 
Synonyms

• 1. See animal. 
• 3. cad, swine, pig, brute, savage, ogre, monster, barbarian.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

beast / biːst/ noun

1. any animal other than a human, esp a large wild quadruped
2. savage nature or characteristics: the beast in us all
3. a brutal, uncivilized, or filthy person

Etymology: 13th Century: from Old French beste, from Latin bestia, of obscure origin