Primary
''prehensile'' ▫ᴱᴺ|Definition|1st|20250824222540-00-⌔
prehensile - Wiktionary, the free dictionary
English
Adjective
prehensile (not comparable)
- (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.
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: /pɹɪˈhɛn.saɪl/, /pɹiːˈhɛn.saɪl/
- (US) IPA: /pɹiˈhɛnsəl/
- Audio (US): 🔊
Printed 2026-06-28.
(echo:: @ ⌗)
Link to original
Secondary
• • •