LingvoCore.com

platyrrhine: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples

Very Low (C2+)
UK/ˈplatɪrʌɪn/US/ˈplætəˌraɪn/

Technical/Scientific

My Flashcards

Quick answer

What does “platyrrhine” mean?

Having a broad, flat nose.

Audio

Pronunciation

Definition

Meaning and Definition

Having a broad, flat nose; especially of, relating to, or being a New World monkey.

Belonging to or characteristic of the Platyrrhini, the infraorder of New World monkeys which includes marmosets, tamarins, capuchins, and howler monkeys, distinguished by their wide nostrils that point sideways. In a broader, non-technical sense, describing any person or animal with a wide, flat nose.

Dialectal Variation

British vs American Usage

Differences

No significant difference in meaning or usage. Spelling is identical. Both varieties use the term exclusively in scientific contexts.

Connotations

Neutral scientific descriptor. Carries no social or evaluative connotations when used correctly.

Frequency

Equally rare and specialized in both British and American English.

Grammar

How to Use “platyrrhine” in a Sentence

[be] platyrrhine[be] classified as platyrrhine[have] a platyrrhine nose

Vocabulary

Collocations

strong
platyrrhine monkeyplatyrrhine primatesplatyrrhine species
medium
platyrrhine noseplatyrrhine lineageplatyrrhine characteristic
weak
typically platyrrhinedistinctly platyrrhineclassic platyrrhine

Examples

Examples of “platyrrhine” in a Sentence

adjective

British English

  • The capuchin is a classic example of a platyrrhine primate.
  • The fossil exhibited distinct platyrrhine features.

American English

  • The marmoset's platyrrhine nose is a key identifying trait.
  • Anthropologists noted the skull's platyrrhine morphology.

Usage

Meaning in Context

Business

Not used.

Academic

Used in biological sciences, anthropology, and primatology research papers and textbooks.

Everyday

Virtually never used. Would confuse most listeners.

Technical

Core term for classifying primates. Used in technical descriptions, taxonomic keys, and comparative anatomy.

Vocabulary

Synonyms of “platyrrhine”

Neutral

New World monkey (for noun use)broad-nosed

Weak

flat-nosedwide-nostrilled

Vocabulary

Antonyms of “platyrrhine”

catarrhinenarrow-nosedleptorrhine

Watch out

Common Mistakes When Using “platyrrhine”

  • Mispronouncing as /plæˈtɪrɪn/ or /ˈplætɪriːn/.
  • Using it to describe objects instead of noses/animals.
  • Confusing with 'platypus'.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

The opposite is 'catarrhine', which refers to Old World monkeys, apes, and humans, characterised by narrow, downward-facing nostrils.

Technically, yes, as it means 'broad-nosed', but it is an extremely technical and obscure medical/anthropological term. In everyday conversation, terms like 'broad-nosed' or 'flat-nosed' would be used instead.

In British English: /ˈplatɪrʌɪn/ (PLAT-i-rhine). In American English: /ˈplætəˌraɪn/ (PLAT-uh-rhine). The stress is on the first syllable.

No. Gorillas are apes, which are part of the Catarrhini infraorder (along with Old World monkeys and humans). They have narrow, downward-pointing nostrils. Platyrrhines are only found in Central and South America.

Having a broad, flat nose.

Platyrrhine is usually technical/scientific in register.

Learning

Memory Aids

Mnemonic

Imagine a PLATe (flat) with two RHI-NO nostrils on it. A 'flat rhinoceros nose' -> plat-y-rrhine.

Conceptual Metaphor

NONE (High-level technical term).

Practice

Quiz

Fill in the gap
Capuchins and howler monkeys are both classified as primates, unlike baboons and macaques.
Multiple Choice

In which field is the term 'platyrrhine' most commonly used?

platyrrhine: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples | Lingvocore