Dictionary Home » Dictionary Definitions » primate

primate

Listen See in Thesaurus See in a sentence

The definition of a primate is the highest-ranking bishop of a province, or a mammal that normally has hands, hand-like feet and that may be a tree-dweller.

(noun)

The archbishop of a country is an example of a primate.
A monkey is an example of a primate.

See primate in Webster's New World College Dictionary

noun

Rare a person with primacy
an archbishop, or the highest-ranking bishop in a province, etc.
any of an order (Primates) of mammals characterized esp. by flexible hands and feet, each with five digits, including humans, great apes, monkeys, and lemurs

Origin: ME primat < OFr < LL primas (gen. primatis), of the first, chief < L primus, first: see prime

Related Forms:

primateship noun
primatial adjective

See primate in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun

(prīˈmātˌ) 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.
A bishop of highest rank in a province or country.

Origin:

Origin: From New Latin Prīmātēs, order name

Origin: , from Latin prīmātēs

Origin: , pl. of prīmās, principal, of first rank

Origin: , from prīmus, first; see per¹ in Indo-European roots

Origin: . Sense 2, from Middle English primat

Origin: , from Old French

Origin: , from Medieval Latin prīmās, prīmāt-

Origin: , from Latin

Related Forms: