[prahy-meyt or, especially for 1, prahy-mit] 
| 1. | Ecclesiastical. an archbishop or bishop ranking first among the bishops of a province or country. |
| 2. | any of various omnivorous mammals of the order Primates, comprising the three suborders Anthropoidea (humans, great apes, gibbons, Old World monkeys, and New World monkeys), Prosimii (lemurs, loris, and their allies), and Tarsioidea (tarsiers), esp. distinguished by the use of hands, varied locomotion, and by complex flexible behavior involving a high level of social interaction and cultural adaptability. |
| 3. | Archaic. a chief or leader. |
[prahy-mey-shuhl] , pri⋅mat⋅i⋅cal [prahy-mat-i-kuhl] , adjective | pri·mate (prī'mĭt, -māt') n.
[From New Latin Prīmātēs, order name, from Latin prīmātēs, pl. of prīmās, principal, of first rank, from prīmus, first; see per1 in Indo-European roots. Sense 2, from Middle English primat, from Old French, from Medieval Latin prīmās, prīmāt-, from Latin.] pri·ma'tial (-mā'shəl) adj. |
primate pri·mate (prī'māt')
n.
A mammal of the order Primates, which includes the anthropoids and prosimians, characterized by refined development of the hands and feet, a shortened snout, and a large brain.
| primate (prī'māt') Pronunciation Key
Any of various mammals of the order Primates, having a highly developed brain, eyes facing forward, a shortened nose and muzzle, and opposable thumbs. Primates usually live in groups with complex social systems, and their high intelligence allows them to adapt their behavior successfully to different environments. Lemurs, monkeys, apes, and humans are primates. |