prehensive

prehensive — adjective

  • prehensivepositive
  • more prehensivecomparative
  • most prehensivesuperlative

1. able to curl around and hold something, especially a tail, hand, foot, or simila

1.形容詞C2
釋義

able to curl around and hold something, especially a tail, hand, foot, or similar part.

例句

The young monkey used its prehensive tail to balance on the branch.

prehensive + tail for an animal body part

Ava wore thin gloves so her prehensive fingers could still climb.

同義詞
  • prehensile

    the more usual scientific word for a tail, hand, or foot that can grip

  • grasping

    broader and less technical; can describe ordinary holding actions

反義詞

文法句型

prehensive + tail/hand/foot/fingers/grip

be prehensive

用法筆記

Usually appears before nouns that name a body part or gripping device. This sense describes something that can physically take hold of an object, not the act or ability itself.

常見錯誤

❌We need a prehensive report for the meeting.
✅We need a comprehensive report for the meeting.
💡prehensive is a rare word about grasping, not a shortened form of comprehensive.
❌Her idea was very prehensive.
✅Her hand was prehensive enough to hold the rail.
💡this sense is about physical gripping, not mental understanding.

2. connected with the action or ability of taking hold of something.

2.形容詞C2
釋義

connected with the action or ability of taking hold of something.

例句

The doctor checked the baby's prehensive reflex by touching her palm.

prehensive + reflex in a medical check

Feng's report linked prehensive movement with tool use in young children.

同義詞
  • gripping

    broader and more everyday; less suitable for formal clinical writing

  • manual

    broader; often means done by the hands, not specifically about grasping power

文法句型

prehensive + reflex/movement/ability/strength

be prehensive

用法筆記

Common in technical writing with nouns such as reflex, movement, ability, and strength. Unlike sense 1, this sense names the function or capacity of grasping rather than a body part that does the grasping.

常見錯誤

❌The box has a prehensive shape.
✅The study measured prehensive ability in both hands.
💡this sense is used for grasping function or power, not for the general shape of an object.