What can be animal or vegetable? Okay, true in a way (8)

I believe the answer is:

eukaryot

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This could be a double definition.

'what can be animal' is the first definition.
I know nothing about this answer so I cannot tell whether this works.

'vegetable? okay true in a way' is the second definition.
I know nothing about this answer so I cannot tell whether it can be defined by this definition.

Can you help me to learn more?

I've seen this clue in The Times and The Sunday Times.

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