rhizoverbBeta
DictionarylemurMadagascan primate
noun

lemur

LEE-mer/ˈliːmər/

A primate native to Madagascar, typically with large eyes and a long tail.

A lemur balances on a branch with its long tail.

A single ring-tailed lemur perched on a low branch, with its large eyes, pointed muzzle, grasping hands and feet, and long black-and-white ringed tail clearly visible.
Etymology
lemurLatinevil spirit of the dead

The Latin ancestor named an evil spirit of the dead. Linnaeus applied this mythological name to the mammal; the spirit-name’s own origin remains uncertain.

In context

TED-Ed1:00
The fat-tailed dwarf lemur prepares for its long dormancy by gorging on food
How does hibernation work? - Sheena Lee Faherty

More examples

  • Wild lemurs live naturally only in Madagascar.
  • The lemur reaches for a piece of fruit.
  • We watch two lemurs leap between the trees.

Forms

lemur · lemurs