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

The permit also enables her to sell exotic animals through her business Primarily Primates, LLC.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 1, 2024

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

From BBC • Aug. 19, 2024

Primates are known to use their red colour traits for communication with other members of their species, for example in signalling information about fertility or rank in the social hierarchy.

From Science Daily • Sep. 22, 2023

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

From "The Tipping Point" by Malcolm Gladwell