prehensile

[ pri-hen-sil, -sahyl ]
/ prɪˈhɛn sɪl, -saɪl /

adjective

adapted for seizing, grasping, or taking hold of something: a prehensile tail.
able to perceive quickly; having keen mental grasp.
greedy; grasping; avaricious.

Origin of prehensile

1781–85; < French préhensile (coined by Buffon), equivalent to Latin prehens(us) (see prehension) + French -ile -ile

OTHER WORDS FROM prehensile

pre·hen·sil·i·ty [pree-hen-sil-i-tee] /ˌpri hɛnˈsɪl ɪ ti/, noun non·pre·hen·sile, adjective sub·pre·hen·sile, adjective sub·pre·hen·sil·i·ty, noun

Example sentences from the Web for prehensile

British Dictionary definitions for prehensile

prehensile
/ (prɪˈhɛnsaɪl) /

adjective

adapted for grasping, esp by wrapping around a support a prehensile tail

Derived forms of prehensile

prehensility (ˌpriːhɛnˈsɪlɪtɪ), noun

Word Origin for prehensile

C18: from French préhensile, from Latin prehendere to grasp

Medical definitions for prehensile

prehensile
[ prē-hĕnsəl, -sīl′ ]

adj.

Adapted for seizing, grasping, or holding, especially by wrapping around an object.

Other words from prehensile

pre′hen•sili•ty (-sĭlĭ-tē) n.

Scientific definitions for prehensile

prehensile
[ prē-hĕnsəl ]

Adapted for seizing, grasping, or holding, especially by wrapping around an object. The feet of many birds, the tails of monkeys, and the trunks of elephants are prehensile.