A beast is a powerful animal or, figuratively, a person who is exceptionally strong or cruelly behaves.
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- Large, wild, or dangerous animal.
- Figuratively: a very strong/skilled person.
- Figuratively: a cruel or savage person.
Overview
The word 'beast' primarily refers to a large, wild, and often dangerous animal. Think of creatures like lions, tigers, bears, or even mythical monsters. It evokes a sense of raw power and untamed nature. In a more figurative sense, 'beast' can be used to describe a person who is extremely strong, skilled, or even aggressive. For instance, an athlete who dominates their sport might be called a 'beast' in informal contexts. It can also describe someone who acts in a cruel, savage, or animalistic manner, highlighting a lack of humanity or control. This figurative use often carries a negative connotation, suggesting brutality or ferocity.
Usage Patterns
'Beast' is generally used in informal spoken English. While it can appear in written texts, especially in literature or when discussing animals, its figurative use is more common in casual conversation. It's less likely to be found in formal academic papers or professional reports unless quoting someone or discussing a specific context where the term is relevant.
Common Contexts
In daily life, you might hear someone refer to a large dog as a 'beast' if it's particularly imposing. A sports fan might call their favorite player a 'beast' after a great performance. In storytelling or fantasy, 'beast' is frequently used to describe monsters or wild creatures. The negative connotation can surface when describing someone's violent or uncontrolled behavior, though this is also typically in informal settings.
Beispiele
The jungle is home to many fearsome beasts.
academicElס jungla es el hogar de muchas bestias temibles.
He's a beast on the basketball court; he never misses a shot!
informalEs una bestia en la cancha de baloncesto; ¡nunca falla un tiro!
The children were told stories of a dragon, a terrible beast.
storytellingA los niños les contaron historias de un dragón, una bestia terrible.
After the argument, he felt like a beast, full of rage.
figurativeDespués de la discusión, se sintió como una bestia, lleno de rabia.
That new gaming PC is a real beast!
slang¡Esa nueva PC para juegos es una verdadera bestia!
The knight fought the beast to save the kingdom.
fantasyEl caballero luchó contra la bestia para salvar el reino.
Häufige Kollokationen
Häufige Phrasen
Beauty and the Beast
La Bella y la Bestia
beast of burden
bestia de carga
Wird oft verwechselt mit
'Animal' is a general term for any creature, while 'beast' implies size, power, and often wildness or danger.
A 'monster' is typically a frightening creature, often supernatural or imaginary, while a 'beast' can be a real animal or a person, focusing more on power and ferocity.
Grammatikmuster
How to Use It
Nutzungshinweise
The word 'beast' is most commonly used to refer to large, powerful, and often dangerous animals. Its figurative use for people is informal and can describe someone exceptionally strong or skilled, or conversely, someone acting cruelly.
Häufige Fehler
Learners might overuse 'beast' in formal situations or when a more specific term like 'animal' or 'athlete' would be appropriate. Confusing the positive connotation (strength) with the negative one (cruelty) can also lead to misunderstandings.
Tips
Use Figuratively with Caution
When using 'beast' for people, be mindful of the context and your audience, as it can be informal or even offensive.
Avoid Formal Settings
The term 'beast' is generally too informal for academic writing, business communication, or official reports.
Mythological Connections
The concept of the 'beast' is common in mythology and folklore across many cultures, often symbolizing untamed nature or primal forces.
Wortherkunft
From Middle English 'best', ultimately from Latin 'bestia', meaning 'beast' or 'animal'.
Kultureller Kontext
In many cultures, the 'beast' represents untamed nature, primal instincts, or chaos, often needing to be overcome by human reason or heroism, as seen in myths and legends.
Merkhilfe
Imagine a 'feast' for a giant, wild 'beast' – big, powerful, and slightly scary!
Häufig gestellte Fragen
10 FragenThe most common meaning refers to a large, wild, and often dangerous animal.
Yes, it can be used figuratively to describe a person who is very strong, skilled, or acts in a cruel way.
It can be positive when describing strength or skill (like in sports), but it's often negative when referring to cruelty or savage behavior.
Large, powerful animals like lions, tigers, bears, or even mythical creatures are often called beasts.
Yes, the character 'The Beast' from the fairy tale 'Beauty and the Beast' is a famous example.
Generally no, 'beast' implies size and power. You wouldn't typically call a mouse or a small bird a beast.
'Animal' is a general term for any living creature that isn't a plant or fungus. 'Beast' specifically refers to a large, powerful, and often wild or dangerous animal.
Rarely. Scientific contexts usually use more specific terms like 'mammal', 'predator', or the scientific name of the species.
No, 'beast' always refers to a living being, either literally an animal or figuratively a person.
It's informal slang meaning the machine is very powerful, large, or impressive, like a high-performance computer or a large truck.
Teste dich selbst
The lion is a powerful ___ found in the savanna.
'Beast' is used here to describe a large, powerful animal.
What does 'beast' mean in this sentence?
In this context, 'beast' is used informally to describe someone who is extremely strong and dominant in their field.
is / wild / a / beast / This / animal
The sentence correctly identifies the animal as a powerful creature.
Ergebnis: /3
Summary
A beast is a powerful animal or, figuratively, a person who is exceptionally strong or cruelly behaves.
- Large, wild, or dangerous animal.
- Figuratively: a very strong/skilled person.
- Figuratively: a cruel or savage person.
Use Figuratively with Caution
When using 'beast' for people, be mindful of the context and your audience, as it can be informal or even offensive.
Avoid Formal Settings
The term 'beast' is generally too informal for academic writing, business communication, or official reports.
Mythological Connections
The concept of the 'beast' is common in mythology and folklore across many cultures, often symbolizing untamed nature or primal forces.
Beispiele
6 von 6The jungle is home to many fearsome beasts.
Elס jungla es el hogar de muchas bestias temibles.
He's a beast on the basketball court; he never misses a shot!
Es una bestia en la cancha de baloncesto; ¡nunca falla un tiro!
The children were told stories of a dragon, a terrible beast.
A los niños les contaron historias de un dragón, una bestia terrible.
After the argument, he felt like a beast, full of rage.
Después de la discusión, se sintió como una bestia, lleno de rabia.
That new gaming PC is a real beast!
¡Esa nueva PC para juegos es una verdadera bestia!
The knight fought the beast to save the kingdom.
El caballero luchó contra la bestia para salvar el reino.
Schnelles Quiz
The hunters were afraid of the giant ____ in the cave.
Richtig!
Die richtige Antwort ist: beast
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Im Kontext lernen
Verwandtes Vokabular
A monster is an imaginary creature that is typically large,...
bruteA brute refers to a person who is cruel, violent, or lacks r...
predatorA predator is an animal that hunts, kills, and eats other an...
creatureA creature is any living thing that is not a plant, such as...
animalAn animal is a living organism that is not a plant or a fung...
wildlifeWildlife refers to animals, birds, and other living creature...
Mehr Animals Wörter
predators
B1Tiere, die andere Tiere jagen und fressen. Sie sind wichtig für das Gleichgewicht in der Natur.
perilabency
C1Perilabency refers to the act or habitual tendency of licking around an object, most specifically the lips. It is an obscure term often used in technical, biological, or clinical descriptions of oral behavior.
goose
B1A large water bird with a long neck, short legs, webbed feet, and a broad bill, typically larger than a duck and smaller than a swan. It can also refer to the meat of this bird or, informally, a foolish or silly person.
boar
B2A boar is a wild pig or an uncastrated male domestic pig, typically known for its thick hair, tusks, and aggressive nature. In ecological terms, it often refers to the wild species (Sus scrofa) found in forests across Europe, Asia, and North Africa.
mite
B1Eine Milbe ist ein winziges Tierchen, das man oft im Staub findet. Sie können jucken oder Pflanzen und Tiere befallen.
mites
B1Winzige Spinnentiere, die man kaum sehen kann. Sie leben oft im Staub oder auf Pflanzen.
antiarchal
C1A member of the extinct order Antiarchi, which were heavily armored placoderm fish that lived during the Devonian period. They are primarily distinguished by their strange, jointed pectoral fins that resemble arthropod limbs and their box-like thoracic armor.
winged
B1Etwas, das Flügel hat und damit fliegen kann.
firefly
B1Ein kleines Käferchen, das im Sommer nachts leuchtet, um Partner zu finden. Seine Lichter sind wunderschön anzusehen.
brindled
B2Describes an animal, such as a dog or cow, having a coat color that is brownish or tawny with streaks or spots of a darker color. It refers specifically to a subtle striped or flecked pattern rather than bold spots.
