bi:st n. 1 an
animal other than a
human being,
esp. a
wild quadruped. 2 a a
brutal person. b colloq. an
objectionable or
unpleasant person or
thing (he's a beast
for not inviting her; a beast of a problem). 3 (prec. by the) a human being's brutish or
uncivilized characteristics (saw
the beast in him). øbeast of
burden an animal, e.g. an
ox, used for carrying loads. beast of
prey see PREY. [ME f. OF beste f. Rmc besta f. L bestia]