Digitigrade

Pronunciation

• RP enPR: dĭʹjÄ­tÄ­grād', IPA: /ˈdɪdʒɪtɪˌɡɹeɪd/

Origin

From French digitigrade (Modern Latin digitigradus), from Latin digitus ("finger, toe, digit") (whence English digit) + gradus ("step”, “pace").

Full definition of digitigrade

Adjective

1. (of an animal) Walking on the toes, putting the weight of the body mainly on the ball of the foot, with the back of the foot, or heel, raised.
2. (zoology, specifically) Belonging to the of the taxonomic order Carnivora.
3. (of feet or a manner of walking) Of, resembling, or pertaining to that of a digitigrade animal.

Antonyms

• plantigrade

Derived terms

• digitigradism

Noun

1. (chiefly in the plural) A digitigrade animal, such as a dog or a cat; an animal that walks on its toes.

Antonyms

• plantigrade