Real Dictionary

animal
countable noun: An animal is a living creature such as a dog, lion, or rabbit, rather than a bird, fish, insect, or human being.
countable noun: Any living creature other than a human being can be referred to as an animal.

animal in American English
any of a kingdom (Animalia) of eukaryotes generally characterized by a multicellular body, the ability to move quickly and obtain food, specialized sense organs, and sexual reproduction
adjective: of, pertaining to, or derived from animals
noun: any member of the kingdom Animalia, comprising multicellular organisms that have a well-defined shape and usually limited growth, can move voluntarily, actively acquire food and digest it internally, and have sensory and nervous systems that allow them to

animal in British English
adjective: of, relating to, or derived from animals
noun: any living organism characterized by voluntary movement, the possession of cells with noncellulose cell walls and specialized sense organs enabling rapid response to stimuli, and the ingestion of complex organic substances such as plants and other animals