colobine

noun

col·​o·​bine ˈkä-lə-bən How to pronounce colobine (audio)
-ˌbīn
variants or less commonly colobin
ˈkä-lə-bən
plural colobines also colobins
: colobus sense 2
often used before another noun
Sloths, colobine monkeys and some types of antelope have gut bacteria that are finely tuned to digest only a selective repertoire of leaves.Fiona Sunquist, International Wildlife, January–February 1991

Word History

Etymology

French, from New Latin Colobinae (subfamily of apes), from Colobus type genus + -inae

The Ultimate Dictionary Awaits

Expand your vocabulary and dive deeper into language with Merriam-Webster Unabridged.

  1. Expanded definitions
  2. Detailed etymologies
  3. Advanced search tools
  4. All ad-free

Discover what makes Merriam-Webster Unabridged the essential choice for true word lovers.

Start Your Free Trial Now

Dictionary Entries Near colobine

Cite this Entry

“Colobine.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/colobine. Accessed 30 Dec. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!