lemur

American  

[lee-mer] / ˈli mər /

noun

1. any of various small, arboreal, chiefly nocturnal mammals of the superfamily Lemuroidea, inhabiting Madagascar and the Comoro Islands, inclusive of nearly 100 species, most of which have large eyes, a foxlike face, and woolly fur: lemurs, which vary significantly in size, include the world’s smallest primates.

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lemur British  

/ ˈliːmə /

noun

1. any Madagascan prosimian primate of the family Lemuridae, such as Lemur catta (the ring-tailed lemur ). They are typically arboreal, having foxy faces and long tails

2. any similar or closely related animal, such as a loris or indris

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Other Word Forms

• lemur-like
  adjective
• lemurlike
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of lemur

First recorded in 1790–1800; from New Latin Lemur, the species name, special use of Latin lemurēs (plural) “ghosts, specters, shades of the dead,” from its nocturnal habits

Explanation

A lemur is a small, nocturnal primate that's native to Madagascar. Lemurs are distinctive for their huge, dark eyes and long tails. There are about 100 different lemur species, some nearly as small as mice and others weighing up to 20 pounds, all of which are native to Madagascar. They're unusual in many ways, from their large eyes and the fact that females are dominant. Lemurs are also believed to be the world's oldest primates. The Latin root of lemur literally means "evil spirits of the dead," a possible reference to their nocturnal nature.

Example Sentences

A separate investigation - Operation Lemur Alpha, which began in March 2021 - is being carried out by the Doncaster Safeguarding Children Partnership and includes a criminal investigation by South Yorkshire Police.

From BBC • Oct. 26, 2022

Michael Cisek, a military analyst with consulting firm Aerodynamic Advisory, said it’s difficult for Russian forces to either jam or pinpoint the Lemur signals.

From Seattle Times • Jun. 5, 2022

The Lemur, which navigates by laser-based lidar rather than satellite-based GPS, is less hackable.

From Washington Post • Mar. 24, 2022

Aquarium workers also have spruced up the Lemur Forest exhibit and have delivered Facebook Live events connecting viewers with experts and animals.

From Washington Times • Apr. 29, 2020

Pollen and van Dam, on the colours of Lemur macaco.

From The Descent of Man by Darwin, Charles

Related Words

• ape
• baboon
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• gorilla
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