prone Hear it!

prone Definition

prone (prōn)

adjective

  1. lying or leaning face downward
  2. lying flat or prostrate; in a horizontal position
  3. having a natural bent; disposed or inclined (to) prone to error
  4. groveling; abject
  5. Old Poet. leaning forward or sloping downward

Etymology: ME < L pronus < pro, before: see pro-

prone Related Forms

pronely adverb prone·ness noun

prone Synonyms

prone

modif.

  1. Inclined

    inclined, predisposed, apt; see likely 4.

  2. Lying down

    lying, recumbent, prostrate, face down; see lying 4, supine 1. See syn. study at likely, supine.

prone Usage Examples

Modifying Another Word

  • notoriously: Ringing compositions are notoriously prone to subtle transcription errors, and over a quarter of the submissions we receive contain errors of some sort.
  • particularly: The brush chamber is particularly prone to carbon dust.
  • inherently: Textiles are also inherently prone to decay and under unfavorable environmental conditions will deteriorate with disturbing rapidity.
  • especially: Using floppy disk files directly in Word is especially prone to errors.
  • hence: All artificial constructs are structurally unstable [ 21 ] , and hence prone to recombine and transfer horizontally.
  • genetically: Others come from families of dogs genetically prone to anxiety.

Infinitive complement

  • rust: Inner wings for 8-valve cars are now beginning to become prone to rust.
  • wander: Prone to wander -- Lord, I feel it -- Prone to leave the God I love.
  • fatigue: Beside stabilizing your feet during your swing, Dr. Foot Sports Insoles make your feet more comfortable and your legs less prone to fatigue.
  • damp: They are not suited for use in bathrooms or other locations prone to damp or condensation.
  • panic: The Swiss police on the other hand are overwhelmed, prone to panic and over reaction.
  • collapse: Such wants are inevitably fickle, as prone to collapse as to arousal, while siphoning capital away from more rooted economic activity.

Modifies a noun

  • position: Swim 25 meters from the deep end to the shallow end using any stroke in the prone position; pupil's choice.
  • skin: This cleanser provides a unique first step for oily or acne prone skin.
  • procedure: There is a particular risk when exposure prone procedures are carried out, such as taking blood from patients.

Used with adjective complement

  • lie: The Princess lay prone upon a couch, sobbing bitterly.
  • seem: No one likes to face injury, but runners especially seem prone to injuries.
  • lay: Leo's bodyguard lays prone across his newspaper, his cigarette burning a hole in the page.
  • become: Even some legal routes have become particularly prone to abuse.
  • fall: Even soldiers are falling prone to our society's growing hypochondria.

Browse dictionary entries near prone

  1. pronator
  2. pronate
  3. pronatalist
  4. pron
  5. promycelium
  6. promulge
  7. promulgate
  8. promptness
  9. promptly
  10. promptitude
  1. pronephros
  2. prong
  3. pronged
  4. pronghorn
  5. pronograde
  6. pronominal
  7. pronoun
  8. pronounce
  9. pronounced
  10. pronouncement