Animal/ˈænɪml/ Definition 1 of 5Pro Tip 1/3Motion as trait Emphasizes animals moving independently as an important characteristic. The goldfish is an animal that swims gracefully. Pro Tip 2/3Not every creature Be aware that not all living things like plants are considered animals. Unlike animals, trees cannot move or eat. Pro Tip 3/3Avoid anthropomorphism When talking about animals, don't attribute them human traits unnecessarily. The octopus moves its arms, but it doesn't 'wave' like a human.