primate (redirected from Primate (biology))

pri·mate (prmt)

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.

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pri·matial (-mshl) adj.

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primate

[prī′māt, prī′mit]

Etymology: L, primus, first

a member of the order of mammals that includes lemurs, monkeys, apes, and humans. Most primates have large brains, stereoscopic vision, and hands and feet developed for grasping.

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primate (prī´māt),

n a member of the biologic order of animals of the chordate class Mammalia. The primate order includes lemurs, monkeys, apes, and humans.

primate space,

n the spacing between the primary canine and primary first molar that normally occurs in the anterior primary dentition in children.

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primate

an animal belonging to the highest order of mammals, Primates, which includes humans and the nonhuman primates, the apes, monkeys, lemurs, tree-shrews, lorises, aye-ayes, pottos, bush babies and tarsiers. They are characterized by being plantigrade, pentadactyl, by having clavicles, a complete dentition without specialized molars, a voluminous and complicated brain and a supple hand with a thumb that can be approximated to any of the fingers. They have excellent sight and are highly adapted to an arboreal existence, including the possession by some of a prehensile tail.