plantigrade

American  

[plan-ti-greyd] / ˈplæn tɪˌgreɪd /

adjective

1. walking on the whole sole of the foot, as humans and bears.

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noun

1. a plantigrade animal.

plantigrade British  

/ ˈplæntɪˌɡreɪd /

adjective

1. walking with the entire sole of the foot touching the ground, as, for example, man and bears

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noun

1. a plantigrade animal

plantigrade Scientific  

/ plăn′tĭ-grād′ /

1. Walking with the entire sole of the foot on the ground, as humans, bears, raccoons, and rabbits.

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Other Word Forms

• subplantigrade adjective

Etymology

Origin of plantigrade

First recorded in 1825–35; from French plantigrade (noun), from New Latin plantigradus, equivalent to Latin plant(a) “sole of the foot” + -i- + -gradus; -i-, -grade

Example Sentences

His hind feet are plantigrade, that is, they rest upon the ground from heel to toe; and his back curves like the segment of a circle.

From Popular Adventure Tales by Reid, Mayne

In considering this question, the first fact to appear is that the apes and lemurs are plantigrade animals.

From Man And His Ancestor A Study In Evolution by Morris, Charles

I now remembered that the porcupine was one of the plantigrade family, with five toes on his hind feet, and only four on the fore ones.

From The Desert Home The Adventures of a Lost Family in the Wilderness by Reid, Mayne

Hind-feet plantigrade with the first toe very short, and the four other toes subequal, and carrying moderate, curved, compressed nails.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 8, Slice 10 "Echinoderma" to "Edward" by Various

Was the enormous plantigrade hit by the bullet?

From Godfrey Morgan A Californian Mystery by Verne, Jules