[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/beast/)

[dictionaries](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [English](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/) / [B](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/b/) / beast

# beast

noun (a beast, beasts); (slang) adjective-like use

«beast» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. A beast is a large, wild or frightening animal. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/beast/#m1)
2. A beast is a cruel or nasty person. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/beast/#m2)
3. (informal) A beast is something very big, powerful or difficult: «That maths test was a beast.» [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/beast/#m3)
4. (slang) Someone who is a beast at something is amazingly good at it. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/beast/#m4)
5. Beast can also be a gentle word for a small animal, such as a pet or a creature we feel sorry for. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/beast/#m5)

### In the lessons

In fairy tales, «Beauty and the Beast». In the Bible (Bible), «beasts of the field» means animals; in the Book of Revelation «the beast» is an evil figure. In sport slang, «he's a beast» is praise. Phrases: «beast of burden» (an animal that carries loads).

### Examples

- The beast roared in the dark forest. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/beast/#x1)
- Beauty learned the Beast was kind inside. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/beast/#x2)
- That homework was a beast! [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/beast/#x3)
- She's a beast at football — she scored five goals. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/beast/#x4)
- Donkeys are beasts of burden. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/beast/#x5)
- The bully was a real beast to the younger kids. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/beast/#x6)
- Chuchundra is a broken-hearted little beast. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/beast/#x7)

### Note

Countable. Adjective: beastly (old-fashioned UK for nasty). Slang «beast» can be praise or insult — the tone tells you.

## In Jewish tradition

An animal, wild or tame. The Torah divides beasts into clean and unclean ones and forbids lying with them.

**Interpretation.** The rabbis explain the clean beasts as those that chew the cud and have split hooves. The ban on lying with a beast is read as a serious crime that is punished by death.

### Examples

- Cursed be he that lieth with any manner of beast. (Torah DEU.27.21, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/B/beast/#x1)
- Whosoever lieth with a beast shall surely be put to death. (Torah EXO.22.19, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/B/beast/#x2)
- And he that smiteth a beast mortally shall make it good: life for life. (Torah LEV.24.18, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/B/beast/#x3)
- The burden of the beasts of the South. (Prophets ISA.30.6, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/B/beast/#x4)
- Then the beasts go into coverts, and remain in their dens. (Writings JOB.37.8, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/B/beast/#x5)
- Who smote the first-born of Egypt, both of man and beast. (Writings PSA.135.8, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/B/beast/#x6)

### Note

Countable. Adjective: beastly (old-fashioned UK for nasty). Slang «beast» can be praise or insult — the tone tells you.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «beast» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/beast/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«beast» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/beast.html) on Mova free.
- [Trees and pragmatics of «beast» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/B/beast/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«beast» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/beast.html) on Mova free.