animate

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   endowed with animal life as distinguished from plant life

   we are animate beings

2. 2
   adj

   belonging to the class of nouns that denote living beings

   the word `dog' is animate

3. 3
   verb

   to give new life or energy to

   I animated the retirees.

4. 4
   verb

   to make lively

   The teacher's exciting lessons often animate the sleepy students.

5. 5
   verb

   to give lifelike qualities to

   You can work on animating the movements of the doll.

6. 6
   verb

   to heighten or intensify

   Their hand motions animate their speech.

7. 7
   adj

   Dynamic, energetic.

   She is an engaging and animate speaker.

8. 8
   adj

   having a referent that is considered alive (this generally includes humans, animals and deities, sometimes also plants, spirits, etc.)

   Nouns can be singular or plural, and one of two genders, animate or inanimate.

Etymology

From Middle English animat(e), from Latin animātus, perfect passive participle of animō (“to fill with breath, quicken, encourage, animate”) (see -ate (adjective-forming suffix)), from anima (“soul, spirit, breath”); see anima. The verb derives from the adjective, see -ate (verb-forming suffix).