digitigrade mammal
- noun
- /ˈdɪdʒɪtəˌɡreɪd ˈmæməl/
- Specialized
:
mamífero digitígrado
- Cats are digitigrade mammals, which means they walk on their toes instead of their heels.
Examples
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Unlike humans, who are plantigrade, most dogs are digitigrade mammals.
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The adaptation of being a digitigrade mammal allows for greater speed in predators like cheetahs.
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A digitigrade mammal walks on its toes.
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Many digitigrade mammals are agile and fast.
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Cats are digitigrade mammals, which means they walk on their toes instead of their heels.
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The adaptation of being a digitigrade mammal allows for greater speed in predators like cheetahs.
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Unlike humans, who are plantigrade, most dogs are digitigrade mammals.
Synonyms
An animal that walks on its toes, like a cat or dog
Antonyms
- Specialized
A mammal that walks with the whole bottom of its foot on the ground
How Much Foot
- Specialized
- Specialized
Surface Forms
Morphology
This is a straightforward adjective+noun composition: 'digitigrade' (contacting the ground only with the toes) modifies 'mammal' (a warm-blooded animal), so the meaning 'a mammal that walks on its toes' is directly and predictably derivable from the constituents. Although 'digitigrade' is a technical, low-frequency term, the semantic combination is compositional and therefore transparent for a learner who knows both words.
Etymology
Digitigrade mammal comes from old words for 'toe' and 'step'; digit means 'toe' and grade means 'step', so it paints the picture of an animal walking on its toes. So, it means animals like dogs, cats, and horses that walk on their toes instead of on the whole foot.
