Primates

[ prahy-mey-teez ]

noun

1. the order comprising the primates.

primates

1. The order of mammals that includes monkeys, apes, and human beings. Primates are distinguished from other animals in that they generally possess limbs capable of performing a variety of functions, hands and feet adapted for grasping (including opposable thumbs ), flattened snouts, and other anatomical features. ( See Linnean classification .)

Word History and Origins

Origin of Primates¹

1765–75; < New Latin, plural of Latin prīmās one of the first, chief, principal. See primate

Example Sentences

But genes trump everything, even parenting by furry primates.

From The Daily Beast

Promising work has been completed in rodents but none yet has been reported in primates.

From The Daily Beast

Big cats, bears, primates, and snakes seem obviously dangerous -- at least to those not trying to show off to their rich friends.

From The Daily Beast

For example, baby primates are separated from their mothers, resulting in emotional trauma.

From The Daily Beast

He was often called the Monkey Man because of the primates and other wild animals he kept on his 21-acre property.

From The Daily Beast

The larger revenues of the primates, he said, were to be reduced respectively to the amounts of 10,000 and 8000 per annum.

From Project Gutenberg

Very few of the Primates, except the rock and cliff-inhabiting baboons, ever made this great venture.

From Project Gutenberg

On his arrival there, Byron was visited by the Primates and officers of the place, who offered him their good offices.

From Project Gutenberg

Not only were the Primates and Mavrocordato affected on the occasion, but the poorest citizen felt that he had lost a friend.

From Project Gutenberg

This alludes to a foregoing enumeration of the seven families of Primates headed by the Anthropini containing man alone.

From Project Gutenberg