lemurs
|le-mur|
🇺🇸
/ˈliːmɚ/
🇬🇧
/ˈliːmə/
(lemur)
Madagascar nocturnal primate
Etymology
'lemur' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'lemures,' where 'lemures' meant 'spirits' or 'ghosts'.
'lemur' was adopted into scientific usage by Carl Linnaeus in the 18th century to name the Malagasy primates, borrowing the Latin term 'lemures' and shifting it from a supernatural sense to a zoological one.
Initially, it meant 'spirits' or 'ghosts', but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'a primate of Madagascar'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
plural form of 'lemur': any of a group of primates native to Madagascar, typically with a long tail, large eyes, and mostly nocturnal or crepuscular habits.
Lemurs are found only on the island of Madagascar.
Last updated: 2026/01/17 11:56