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Showing results for prehension. Search instead for prehensor.
Synonyms

prehension

American  
[pri-hen-shuhn] / prɪˈhɛn ʃən /

noun

  1. the act of seizing or grasping.

  2. mental apprehension.


prehension British  
/ prɪˈhɛnʃən /

noun

  1. the act of grasping

  2. apprehension by the senses or the mind

"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

Etymology

Origin of prehension

1525–35; < Latin prehēnsiōn- (stem of prehēnsiō ) a taking hold, equivalent to prehēns ( us ) (past participle of prehendere to seize, equivalent to pre- pre- + -hendere to grasp; akin to get ) + -iōn- -ion


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

But public ap prehension about the possible dangers of chemical insect killers is now shielding the hungry worms from DDT and other long-lasting poisons.

From Time Magazine Archive

But last week Philadelphia's Dr. William Likoff somberly warned the AHA that the "mild coronary" may have more cause for ap prehension than for gratitude.

From Time Magazine Archive

The trophi serve merely for the prehension of prey, and not for mastication.

From A Monograph on the Sub-class Cirripedia With Figures of all the Species. by Charles Darwin

It accords with the principle of the division of physiological labour, which prevails throughout the animal kingdom, that 142as the hands became perfected for prehension, the feet should have become perfected for support and locomotion.

From The Descent of Man and Selection in Relation to Sex, Vol. I by Charles Darwin

It accords with the principle of the division of physiological labour, prevailing throughout the animal kingdom, that as the hands became perfected for prehension, the feet should have become perfected for support and locomotion.

From The Descent of Man by Charles Darwin

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