Trends oflemur
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lemur
(liːməʳ)
Word forms: plural lemurs
countable noun
A lemur is an animal that looks like a small monkey and has a long tail and a face similar to that of a fox.
lemur in British English
(ˈliːmə)
noun
1.
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
2.
any similar or closely related animal, such as a loris or indris
Derived forms
lemur-like (ˈlemur-ˌlike) adjective
Word origin
C18: New Latin, adapted from Latin lemurēs ghosts; so named by Linnaeus for its ghost-like face and nocturnal habitslemur in American English
(ˈlimər)
noun
any of a family (Lemuridae) of prosimian primates with large eyes, a long tail, a pointed muzzle, and soft, woolly fur: they are mostly tree-dwelling and nocturnal, and are found only in Madagascar and the Comoro Islands
see also indriDerived forms
lemurine (ˈlemuˌrine) (ˈlɛmjʊˌraɪn; ˈlɛmjʊrɪn) adjective
lemuroid (ˈlemuˌroid) (ˈlɛmjʊˌrɔɪd)
adjective, noun
Word origin
< L lemures, ghosts, specters (akin to Gr lamia: see lamia): so called from its nocturnal habitsImage oflemur
© Natalia Paklina, shutterstock