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primate

primate

noun pree-MAHT Rare
Animals & Nature Mammals

Origin: Latin primas ('of the first rank'), applied to the mammal order by Linnaeus

Usage Note

Primate covers all members of the order Primates — monkeys, apes, and humans. In biology, les primates non humains distinguishes other primates from people. The separate noun un primat (without the final 'e') is the ecclesiastical term for a high-ranking archbishop.

Examples

"Les grands singes sont des primates très intelligents."

Natural Translation

Great apes are very intelligent primates.

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