What does 'catarrhine' literally mean?

From Greek 'kata-' (down) and 'rhis' (nose). It means 'downward-nosed'.

Are humans considered catarrhines?

Yes, humans (genus Homo) belong to the catarrhine clade within the infraorder Catarrhini, which also includes apes and Old World monkeys.

What is the opposite of catarrhine?

The opposite is 'platyrrhine' (from Greek 'platy-' meaning flat or broad), referring to New World monkeys which have sideways-facing, wide nostrils.

Where would I encounter this word?

You would only encounter it in advanced academic texts, research papers, or university courses in anthropology, primatology, zoology, or evolutionary biology.

Is “catarrhine” formal?

Catarrhine is usually scientific/technical in register.

How do you pronounce “catarrhine”?

Catarrhine: in British English it is pronounced /ˈkætəraɪn/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈkædəˌraɪn/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.

catarrhine: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples

Very Low Frequency

UK/ˈkætəraɪn/US/ˈkædəˌraɪn/

Scientific/Technical

My Flashcards

Quick answer

What does “catarrhine” mean?

A primate of a group characterized by having nostrils that are close together and directed downward.

Audio

Pronunciation

Definition

Meaning and Definition

A primate of a group characterized by having nostrils that are close together and directed downward; includes Old World monkeys, apes, and humans.

Of or relating to this group of primates; having a nose with narrow nostrils that point downward. In historical taxonomy, used to describe a major division of primates, contrasted with platyrrhine (New World monkeys).

Dialectal Variation

British vs American Usage

Differences

No significant difference in meaning or usage between UK and US English. It is an international scientific term.

Connotations

Purely descriptive and taxonomic.

Frequency

Extremely rare in both varieties, confined entirely to technical literature.

Grammar

How to Use “catarrhine” in a Sentence

[catarrhine] [noun] (e.g., catarrhine primate)the [adjective] catarrhine (e.g., the early catarrhine)

Vocabulary

Collocations

strong

catarrhine primatescatarrhine monkeycatarrhine nose

medium

catarrhine lineagecatarrhine evolutioncatarrhine features

weak

early catarrhinefossil catarrhinecatarrhine ancestor

Examples

Examples of “catarrhine” in a Sentence

adjective

British English

The fossil displayed distinctly catarrhine dental features.
Research focused on early catarrhine evolution in Africa.

American English

The specimen was classified as a catarrhine primate.
His thesis compared platyrrhine and catarrhine nasal morphology.

Usage

Meaning in Context

Business

Not used.

Academic

Used in biological anthropology, primatology, and evolutionary biology papers and textbooks.

Everyday

Never used.

Technical

Core term for a specific primate clade.

Vocabulary

Synonyms of “catarrhine”

Strong

narrow-nosed primate

Neutral

Old World primate

Weak

anthropoid (in specific, dated taxonomic contexts)

Vocabulary

Antonyms of “catarrhine”

platyrrhine New World monkey

Watch out

Common Mistakes When Using “catarrhine”

Spelling: 'catarrine' (missing 'h'), 'catarrhine' (incorrect doubling).
Pronunciation: mispronouncing the 'rrh' cluster.
Using it as a general synonym for 'monkey' or 'ape'.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

: From Greek 'kata-' (down) and 'rhis' (nose). It means 'downward-nosed'.
: Yes, humans (genus Homo) belong to the catarrhine clade within the infraorder Catarrhini, which also includes apes and Old World monkeys.
: The opposite is 'platyrrhine' (from Greek 'platy-' meaning flat or broad), referring to New World monkeys which have sideways-facing, wide nostrils.
: You would only encounter it in advanced academic texts, research papers, or university courses in anthropology, primatology, zoology, or evolutionary biology.
: A primate of a group characterized by having nostrils that are close together and directed downward.
: Catarrhine is usually scientific/technical in register.
: Catarrhine: in British English it is pronounced /ˈkætəraɪn/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈkædəˌraɪn/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.

Phrases

Idioms & Phrases

“None”

Learning

Memory Aids

Mnemonic

"CATARRHINE has a narrow nose; think of a CAT with its nose pointed down sniffing." Alternatively: "CAT-AR-RHINE: a CAT that is FINE with a RHINO's downward-facing nostrils."

Conceptual Metaphor

N/A. The term is a literal, anatomical descriptor.

Practice

Quiz

Fill in the gap

Gibbons, chimpanzees, and macaques are all examples of primates.

Multiple Choice

What is the primary distinguishing feature of a catarrhine?