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• Primates
  Primates

  noun

  the order comprising the primates.
• primates
  primates

  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.)

Primates

American  

[prahy-mey-teez] / praɪˈmeɪ tiz /

noun

1. the order comprising the primates.

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primates Cultural  

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.)

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Etymology

Origin of Primates

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

Example Sentences

Primates were already around by the time the asteroid struck, in a Northern Hemisphere spring 66 million years ago.

From Slate • Oct. 21, 2024

Action for Primates, a UK-based advocacy project, assisted police in the investigation.

From BBC • Aug. 19, 2024

Given up for adoption, Rachel eventually found herself at New York University’s Laboratory for Experimental Medicine and Surgery in Primates, where she stayed for more than 15 years.

From Salon • Jun. 5, 2024

Primates aren’t the only exotic animals popular here.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 17, 2024

Primates — monkeys, chimps, baboons, humans — have the biggest brains of all mammals.

From "The Tipping Point" by Malcolm Gladwell