Words / B2

BEEST/biːst/

A beast is an animal, especially a large or dangerous one: a wild beast; a beast of burden. Animal is broader; brute is a close twin; monster is mythical. Name the beast in the source only if the extract names the species. Mix-up: beast vs best; feast (already in a B2 list); do not write beast for a named pet cat unless the source uses the word.

Meaning

An animal, especially a large or dangerous one; also a cruel person (informal).

Examples

• “Name the beast in the source only if the extract names the species, the literature paper said.”
• “A beast of burden featured in the history extract, which is the working-animal sense — still name the animal if given.”

Good to know

a wild beast; a beast of burden. Broader: animal. Close: brute. Trap: best / feast / a pet unless so named. Literature, history, and RS. A large animal — name the species or the load.

Near in meaning

animal, brute, creature

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