brachiation

[ brey-kee-ey-shuh n, brak-ee- ]
/ ˌbreɪ kiˈeɪ ʃən, ˌbræk i- /

noun Zoology.

locomotion accomplished by swinging by the arms from one hold to another.

Origin of brachiation

brachiate + -ion

Words nearby brachiation

brachial plexus, brachial plexus neuropathy, brachial vein, brachialgia, brachiate, brachiation, brachiator, brachio-, brachiocephalic, brachiocephalic artery, brachiocephalic trunk

Scientific definitions for brachiation

brachiation
[ brā′kē-ā′shən, brăk′ē- ]

Movement in which the suspended body swings by the arms from one hold to another, as in gibbons and arboreal primates. Adaptations used in brachiation, such as relatively long arms and a freely rotating shoulder joint, may have contributed to the development of bipedalism in protohumans.