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

plantigrade

1 9.9
An animal that walks with the whole sole of the foot on the ground
  • noun
  • /ˈplæntɪˌgreɪd/
  • Specialized
translation icon : plantígrado

Examples

  • The objective of managing all clubfeet is to correct the deformity and obtain a plantigrade (foot flat on the ground) foot with a normal load-bearing area.

    Academic text (2005)

  • The goal of surgery, similar to other foot deformities, is to achieve a painless plantigrade (flat on the ground) foot that permits normal gait and shoe wear.

    Academic text (2005)

  • Bears and humans are both examples of plantigrade animals because they walk with their entire foot touching the ground.

  • Unlike cats, which are digitigrade, humans are plantigrade walkers, meaning their whole foot makes contact with the ground.

  • The zookeeper explained that the plantigrade stance of the bear helps it balance while climbing.

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
1 9.9
digitigrade
  • Specialized
9.9
ungulate
  • Specialized
1 9.2

Surface Forms

plantigrade singular
plantigrades plural

Morphology

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

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

Etymology

The noun plantigrade is formed from Latin planta ('sole of the foot') and gradus ('step'), so a plantigrade is an animal that 'plants' its whole sole on the ground when it walks, like a bear or a human.