Advertisement
Advertisement
View synonyms for lemur
lemur
[ lee-mer ]
noun
- any of various small, arboreal, chiefly nocturnal mammals of the superfamily Lemuroidea, inhabiting Madagascar and the Comoro Islands, inclusive of nearly 100 species, most of which have large eyes, a foxlike face, and woolly fur: lemurs, which vary significantly in size, include the world’s smallest primates.
lemur
/ ˈliːmə /
noun
- any Madagascan prosimian primate of the family Lemuridae, such as Lemur catta (the ring-tailed lemur ). They are typically arboreal, having foxy faces and long tails
- any similar or closely related animal, such as a loris or indris
Discover More
Derived Forms
- ˈlemur-ˌlike, adjective
Discover More
Other Words From
- lemur·like adjective
Discover More
Word History and Origins
Origin of lemur1
First recorded in 1790–1800; from New Latin Lemur, the species name, special use of Latin lemurēs (plural) “ghosts, specters, shades of the dead,” from its nocturnal habits
Discover More
Word History and Origins
Origin of lemur1
C18: New Latin, adapted from Latin lemurēs ghosts; so named by Linnaeus for its ghost-like face and nocturnal habits
Discover More
Example Sentences
He took to Velcroing a stuffed lemur to his arm, christening it George.
From The Daily Beast
The ruffed lemur is the largest of these curious animals, being about as big as a good-sized cat.
From Project Gutenberg
There are two lemur-like animals which are so extraordinary that each of them has been put into a family all by itself.
From Project Gutenberg
The aye-aye is a lemur, but it differs singularly from all its congeners, and still more from all apes.
From Project Gutenberg
Galeopithecus “or the flying Lemur” is mentioned in the corresponding discussion in the Origin, Ed.
From Project Gutenberg
Sem′i-an′thracite, coal intermediate between anthracite and semi-bituminous coal; Sem′i-ape, a lemur.
From Project Gutenberg
Advertisement
Discover More
Related Words
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Browse