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Definition of prehensile - 7 dictionary results
pre⋅hen⋅sile
[pri-hen-sil, -sahyl]
–adjective
| 1. | adapted for seizing, grasping, or taking hold of something: a prehensile tail. |
| 2. | able to perceive quickly; having keen mental grasp. |
| 3. | greedy; grasping; avaricious. |
Origin:
1781–85; < F préhensile (coined by Buffon), equiv. to L prehens(us) (see prehension ) + F -ile -ile
1781–85; < F préhensile (coined by Buffon), equiv. to L prehens(us) (see prehension ) + F -ile -ile

Related forms:
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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Link To prehensile
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Language Translation for : prehensile
Spanish:
prensil,
German:
zum Greifen geeignet; Greif-…,
Japanese:
つかむのに適した
prehensile
1781, from Fr. préhensile (Buffon), from L. prehensus, pp. of prehendere "to grasp, to seize," from præ- "before" + -hendere, related to hedera "ivy," via notion of "clinging," and cognate with Gk. khandanein "to take in, hold" (see get).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Main Entry: pre·hen·sile
Pronunciation: prE-'hen(t)-s&l, -'hen-"sIl
Function: adjective
: adapted for seizing or grasping especially bywrapping around <prehensile tail> —pre·hen·sil·i·ty /(")prE-"hen-'sil-&t-E/ noun plural -ties
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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prehensile pre·hen·sile (prē-hěn'səl, -sīl')
adj.
Adapted for seizing, grasping, or holding, especially by wrapping around an object.
pre'hen·sil'i·ty (-sĭl'ĭ-tē) n.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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| prehensile (prē-hěn'səl) Pronunciation Key
Adapted for seizing, grasping, or holding, especially by wrapping around an object. The feet of many birds, the tails of monkeys, and the trunks of elephants are prehensile. |
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
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Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
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Copyright © 2009, Dictionary.com, LLC. All rights reserved.

