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; see -i-, -grade

Example Sentences

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

Plantigrade, plant′i-grād, adj. that walks on the sole of the foot.—n. a plantigrade animal, as the bear.—adj.

From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 3 of 4: N-R) by Various

Palmigrade, pal′mi-grād, adj. noting animals that walk on the sole of the foot and not merely on the toes: plantigrade.

From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 3 of 4: N-R) by Various

The short tail, bulky build, completely plantigrade feet and clumsy gait are features eminently characteristic of the bears.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 5, Slice 4 "Carnegie Andrew" to "Casus Belli" by Various

The next thing to observe is, that the disposition of bones in the case of the bear is such that the animal walks in the way that has been called plantigrade.

From Darwin, and After Darwin (Vol. 1 and 3, of 3) An Exposition of the Darwinian Theory and a Discussion of Post-Darwinian Questions by Romanes, George John