definitions

lemur

[ lee-mer ]
/ ˈli mər /
|
SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR lemur ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

any of various small, arboreal, chiefly nocturnal mammals of the family Lemuridae, of Madagascar and the Comoro Islands, especially of the genus Lemur, usually having large eyes, a foxlike face, and woolly fur: most lemurs are endangered.

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RELATED WORDS

baboon, ape, chimpanzee, gorilla, orangutan, rascal, monk, imp, scamp, simian, anthropoid, man, monkey, human, mammal

Nearby words

lempa, lemper, lempert operation, lempira, lemuel, lemur, lemuralia, lemures, lemuroid, len, lena

Origin of lemur

1790–1800; < New Latin, apparently special use of Latin lemurēs (plural) ghosts, specters

Related forms

le·mur·like, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for lemur

British Dictionary definitions for lemur

lemur

/ (ˈliːmə) /

noun

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

Derived Forms

lemur-like, adjective

Word Origin for lemur

C18: New Latin, adapted from Latin lemurēs ghosts; so named by Linnaeus for its ghost-like face and nocturnal habits
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012