prehensile

See also: préhensile
WOTD – 25 January 2008

English

Etymology

Borrowed from French préhensile, from Latin perfect passive participle prehēnsus, from prehendō (grasp, seize) + adjective suffix -ile, from Latin -ilis.

Pronunciation

  • (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /pɹɪˈhɛn.saɪl/
  • (US) IPA(key): /pɹiˈhɛnsəl/
  • (file)

Adjective

prehensile (not comparable)

  1. (zoology) Able to take hold of and clasp objects; adapted for grasping especially by wrapping around an object.
    Some monkeys have prehensile tails which they use to pick things up.

Derived terms

  • prehensive

Translations

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