Skip to main content

We're in Beta! Found a bug? Let us know using the feedback button at the bottom right.

↑↓ navigate ↵ open esc close

primate

C2 Topic:Animals
US /ˈpraɪˌmeɪt/ UK /ˈpraɪmeɪt/
Freq #24792

Meanings

  1. 1
  2. 2

Thesaurus

Synonyms
1 noun · any mammal of the order... member of the order Primates
2 noun · a senior bishop or... prelatechief bishop
Word family
Forms primates
Derived forms primatialprimateshipprimatology
Related forms apemonkeylemurtarsierhumanPrimates

Etymology

From Middle English primate, through Old French from Late Latin primas, 'chief or person of the first rank,' based on Latin primus, 'first.' The ecclesiastical title is the older English sense. Linnaeus later used the Latin plural Primates as the mammalian order name, and English adopted primate for an individual member of that order.

Topics

markdown

Send feedback

What is this about?

Choose the closest match.

Optional — only if you'd like a reply.