Beasts (6)
'beasts' is the definition.
('brute' can be a synonym of 'beast')
This is the entire clue.
(Other definitions for brutes that I've seen before include "Animals other than humans (6)" , "Beasts" , "Savagely violent men or animals" , "Savages" .)
'beasts' is the definition.
('animal' can be a synonym of 'beast')
This is all the clue.
(Other definitions for animals that I've seen before include "Living organisms characterised by voluntary movement" , "Fauna (as opposed to flora)" , "Wild beasts" , "Beasts, creatures" , "brutal men" .)