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any nonhuman animal, especially a large, four-footed mammal.
the crude animal nature common to humans and the lower animals:
Hunger brought out the beast in him.
a cruel, coarse, filthy, or otherwise beastlike person.
a live creature, as distinguished from a plant:
What manner of beast is this?
the beast, the Antichrist. Rev. 13:18.
Contemporary Examples

On first viewing, the beast Video team was fairly convinced this was fake.
Viral Video of the Day: Suburban Kangaroo Streetfight Jack Holmes, The Daily Beast Video October 6, 2014

Hart did not reply to queries from Newsweek/The Daily beast.
Anne Hathaway’s New Fiancé, Adam Shulman, a Mystery Man Diane Herbst December 5, 2011

Be sure to check back in with The Daily beast throughout the week for reports every day on these various group sessions.
Obama Does the Clinton Show Benjamin Sarlin September 21, 2009

“There is no reason to believe that after the first wave, all was safe,” Chaffetz told The Daily beast.
John McCain to Meet With Susan Rice to Settle Benghazi Score Eli Lake November 25, 2012

“She was the perfect combination of being very beautiful and very smart and charming,” Galbraith told The Daily beast.
Morgan Fairchild: Badass Foreign Policy Wonk Asawin Suebsaeng October 19, 2014

Historical Examples

If thou fall, thou wilt merely swell the triumph of the ‘beast.’
Quo Vadis Henryk Sienkiewicz

He urged the beast to full speed, forcing the animal to the top of the wall and over.
Millennium Everett B. Cole

“Give your beast these,” said the Emperor, handing the keeper several of the figs.
The Wanderer’s Necklace H. Rider Haggard

The stone struck the beast on the skull and knocked him over dead.
The Children of Odin Padraic Colum

But Baboo Dass swore he had seen a beast with his hands on the window.
The Three Sapphires W. A. Fraser

noun
any animal other than man, esp a large wild quadruped
savage nature or characteristics: the beast in man
a brutal, uncivilized, or filthy person
verb
(transitive) (military slang, slang, mainly Brit) to punish or torture (someone) in a manner that involves excessive physical exercise
n.

c.1200, from Old French beste “animal, wild beast,” figuratively “fool, idiot” (11c., Modern French bête), from Vulgar Latin *besta, from Latin bestia “beast, wild animal,” of unknown origin. Used to translate Latin animal. Replaced Old English deor (see deer) as the generic word for “wild creature,” only to be ousted 16c. by animal. Of persons felt to be animal-like in various senses from early 13c. Of the figure in the Christian apocalypse story from late 14c.

noun

A cheap prostitute (esp WWII Armed forces)
(also beastie, beasty) An especially unattractive woman (1940s+ Teenagers)
Any woman whatever, but esp a young, attractive one (1960s+ Jazz musicians)
A crude or sexually aggressive male; animal
Anything regarded as difficult and misbegotten: But that is part of the beast that was created (1860s+)

This word is used of flocks or herds of grazing animals (Ex. 22:5; Num. 20:4, 8, 11; Ps. 78:48); of beasts of burden (Gen. 45:17); of eatable beasts (Prov. 9:2); and of swift beasts or dromedaries (Isa. 60:6). In the New Testament it is used of a domestic animal as property (Rev. 18:13); as used for food (1 Cor. 15:39), for service (Luke 10:34; Acts 23:24), and for sacrifice (Acts 7:42). When used in contradistinction to man (Ps. 36:6), it denotes a brute creature generally, and when in contradistinction to creeping things (Lev. 11:2-7; 27:26), a four-footed animal. The Mosaic law required that beasts of labour should have rest on the Sabbath (Ex. 20:10; 23:12), and in the Sabbatical year all cattle were allowed to roam about freely, and eat whatever grew in the fields (Ex. 23:11; Lev. 25:7). No animal could be castrated (Lev. 22:24). Animals of different kinds were to be always kept separate (Lev. 19:19; Deut. 22:10). Oxen when used in threshing were not to be prevented from eating what was within their reach (Deut. 25:4; 1 Cor.9:9). This word is used figuratively of an infuriated multitude (1 Cor. 15:32; Acts 19:29; comp. Ps. 22:12, 16; Eccl. 3:18; Isa. 11:6-8), and of wicked men (2 Pet. 2:12). The four beasts of Daniel 7:3, 17, 23 represent four kingdoms or kings.