Primate Meaning

/ˈpɹaɪmeɪt/
C1

Definition, CEFR level C1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.

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nounA mammal of the order Primates, including apes (which include humans), monkeys, lemurs, tarsiers, lorisids, and galagos.

nounA mammal of the order Primates, comprising of apes (including humans), monkeys, lemurs, tarsiers, lorisids, and galagos.

Apes are our cousins and primate relatives.
Madame Berthe's mouse lemur is the smallest primate in the world.
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
None
CEFR Practice Quiz
The researcher studied the social behavior of the ____ in the wild.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The chimpanzee is our closest living ____ relative, sharing over ninety-eight percent of our DNA.

First attested in 1876. From French primate, from the substantivization of Latin prīmās, prīmātis (“one of the first, chief, excellent, noble”), same as Etymology 2. So named due to the belief that primates are the highest order of mammals or animals.

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CEFR Practice Quiz
The researcher studied the social behavior of the ____ in the wild.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The chimpanzee is our closest living ____ relative, sharing over ninety-eight percent of our DNA.

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