/ ˈhjuːmən; NAmE / adjective , noun
■ adjective
1.
[ only before noun ] of or connected with people rather than animals, machines or gods :
the human body / brain
human anatomy / activity / behaviour / experience
a terrible loss of human life
Contact with other people is a basic human need .
This food is not fit for human consumption .
human geography (= the study of the way different people live around the world)
The hostages were used as a human shield (= a person or group of people that is forced to stay in a particular place where they would be hurt or killed if their country attacked it) .
Firefighters formed a human chain (= a line of people) to carry the children to safety.
Human remains (= the body of a dead person) were found inside the house.
2.
showing the weaknesses that are typical of people, which means that other people should not criticize the person too much :
human weaknesses / failings
We must allow for human error .
It's only human to want the best for your children.
3.
having the same feelings and emotions as most ordinary people :
He's really very human when you get to know him.
The public is always attracted to politicians who have the human touch (= the ability to make ordinary people feel relaxed when they meet them) .
—compare inhuman , non-human
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IDIOMS
- the human face of ...
- with a human face
—more at milk noun
■ noun
(also ˌhuman ˈbeing ) a person rather than an animal or a machine :
Dogs can hear much better than humans.
That is no way to treat another human being.
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WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English humaine , from Old French humain(e) , from Latin humanus , from homo man, human being. The present spelling became usual in the 18th cent.; compare with humane .