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Glite Dictionary
🐾 Flat-footed animal 🐾 Walking flat-footed
plantigrade

plantigrade

9.9
Walking with the whole sole of the foot on the ground
  • adjective
  • /ˈplæntɪˌɡreɪd/
  • Specialized
translation icon : plantígrado
  • Humans are considered plantigrade animals.

Examples

  • The evolutionary advantages of a plantigrade gait include greater stability and endurance.

  • Bears are also plantigrade mammals.

  • Bears are plantigrade animals, walking on the full length of their feet.

  • Humans, unlike cats and dogs, have a plantigrade stance when moving.

  • Humans and bears are both plantigrade mammals because they walk with their entire foot touching the ground.

  • Unlike cats and dogs, which are digitigrade, a panda's plantigrade stance helps it to move more steadily.

  • The ability of a sloth to walk in a plantigrade manner allows it to adapt to a tree-dwelling life.

Antonyms

digitigrade
  • Specialized
9.9

Walking on the toes with the heel raised, like a dog or horse

Compounds

plantigrade mammal
  • Specialized
7.0

A mammal that walks with the whole bottom of its foot on the ground

How Flat-Footed

plantigrade
  • Specialized
9.9
digitigrade
  • Specialized
9.9

Surface Forms

plantigrade positive

Morphology

plantigrade = plant + grade (opaque) = plant + grade

The term 'plantigrade' is not transparently derived from 'plant' and 'grade' in modern English usage.

Etymology

Plantigrade comes from the Latin parts planta ('sole of the foot') and gradus ('step'). Think of the phrase 'to plant your feet' — a plantigrade animal puts the whole sole of its foot on the ground when it walks, which gives it extra stability.