primate
[ prahy-meyt or, especially for 1, prahy-mit ]
/ ˈpraɪ meɪt or, especially for 1, ˈpraɪ mɪt /
noun
Ecclesiastical. an archbishop or bishop ranking first among the bishops of a province or country.
Anthropology, Zoology. any of various worldwide omnivorous mammals of the order Primates, comprising, by modern classification, two suborders, the strepsirrhines (lemurs, lorises, and their allies) and the haplorhines (tarsiers, New World monkeys, Old World monkeys, and apes, including humans), especially distinguished by the use of hands, varied locomotion, and complex behavior involving a high level of social interaction and cultural adaptability: many primates are strictly arboreal, but even among the numerous terrestrial species, some arboreal behavior is common.
Archaic. a chief or leader.
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Origin of primate
First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English, Anglo-French, Old French primat “dignitary, religious leader, archbishop,” from Late Latin prīmāt- (stem of prīmās), noun use of Latin prīmās “of first rank, principal, chief,” derivative of prīmus “first”; (def. 2) taken as singular of New Latin Primātēs, name of the taxonomic order; -ate as if from the suffix -ate ; see origin at prime,Primates, -ate1
OTHER WORDS FROM primate
pri·ma·tal, adjective, nounpri·ma·tial [prahy-mey-shuhl], /praɪˈmeɪ ʃəl/, pri·mat·i·cal [prahy-mat-i-kuhl], /praɪˈmæt ɪ kəl/, adjectiveWords nearby primate
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020
Example sentences from the Web for primate
British Dictionary definitions for primate (1 of 2)
primate1
/ (ˈpraɪmeɪt) /
noun
any placental mammal of the order Primates, typically having flexible hands and feet with opposable first digits, good eyesight, and, in the higher apes, a highly developed brain: includes lemurs, lorises, monkeys, apes, and man
adjective
of, relating to, or belonging to the order Primates
Derived forms of primate
primatial (praɪˈmeɪʃəl), adjectiveWord Origin for primate
C18: from New Latin primates, plural of prīmās principal, from prīmus first
British Dictionary definitions for primate (2 of 2)
primate2
/ (ˈpraɪmeɪt) /
noun
another name for archbishop
Primate of all England the Archbishop of Canterbury
Primate of England the Archbishop of York
Word Origin for primate
C13: from Old French, from Latin prīmās principal, from prīmus first
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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Medical definitions for primate
primate
[ prī′māt′ ]
n.
A mammal of the order Primates, which includes the anthropoids and prosimians, characterized by refined development of the hands and feet, a shortened snout, and a large brain.
Other words from primate
pri•ma′tial (-mā′shəl) adj.The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Scientific definitions for primate
primate
[ prī′māt′ ]
Any of various mammals of the order Primates, having a highly developed brain, eyes facing forward, a shortened nose and muzzle, and opposable thumbs. Primates usually live in groups with complex social systems, and their high intelligence allows them to adapt their behavior successfully to different environments. Lemurs, monkeys, apes, and humans are primates.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.