noun
lemur
LEE-muh
noun
1
A tree-dwelling primate native to Madagascar, known for large eyes and, in some species, a long ringed tail.
"The ring-tailed lemur is one of the most recognizable primates in the world."
"Lemurs are found only on Madagascar and a few nearby islands."
How to Use Lemur
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA type of primate found only in Madagascar, distinct from monkeys and apes.
Common pairings
ring-tailed lemur
lemurs of Madagascar
Word Forms
lemurs plural
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The ring-tailed _____ is one of the most recognizable primates in the world.
Etymology
From Latin lemures, "spirits of the dead" — the naturalist Carl Linnaeus chose the name in 1754 because of the animals' ghostly nocturnal habits and slow, silent movements.