prehensile

American  

[pri-hen-sil, -sahyl] / prɪˈhɛn sɪl, -saɪl /

adjective

1. adapted for seizing, grasping, or taking hold of something.

   a prehensile tail.

2. able to perceive quickly; having keen mental grasp.

3. greedy; grasping; avaricious.

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prehensile British  

/ prɪˈhɛnsaɪl, ˌpriːhɛnˈsɪlɪtɪ /

adjective

1. adapted for grasping, esp by wrapping around a support

   a prehensile tail

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prehensile Scientific  

/ prē-hĕn′səl /

1. Adapted for seizing, grasping, or holding, especially by wrapping around an object. The feet of many birds, the tails of monkeys, and the trunks of elephants are prehensile.

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Other Word Forms

• nonprehensile adjective
• prehensility noun
• subprehensile adjective
• subprehensility noun

Etymology

Origin of prehensile

1781–85; < French préhensile (coined by Buffon), equivalent to Latin prehens ( us ) ( prehension ) + French -ile -ile

Example Sentences

They move through trees using a prehensile tail for balance and mitten-like feet for a careful, measured stride.

From Science Daily

The fossil lacked the reinforced bark-gnawing jaws and possessed a prehensile tail, making it appear more closely related to South American porcupines.

From Science Daily

Nor is it necessarily true that older political leaders invariably hang on to their seats as if with what Orwell called prehensile behinds.

From Los Angeles Times

The Brazil nuts they had been counting on to sustain them were in short supply, and the piglike tapir, with its prehensile snout, was elusive.

From Literature

With their prehensile lips — they are distantly related to elephants — they grabbed the lettuce and nibbled.

From Seattle Times

Related Words

• eager
• hungry
• impatient
• rapacious
• selfish