brachiate
/ˈbreɪkiˌeɪt/
verb
- To move by swinging from one handhold to another, using the arms, like a monkey or ape.
- The zoo's orangutan loves to brachiate across the ropes in its enclosure.
- Some primates brachiate more than others, depending on their body size and habitat.
- Gibbons brachiate through the trees with incredible speed and grace.
Synonyms
adjective
- Having arms or arm-like parts; used especially to describe animals that move by swinging with their arms.
- Fossil evidence shows that some early primates were brachiate, like modern gibbons.
- The brachiate structure of the spider monkey allows it to travel easily through the canopy.
- Brachiate primates have long, strong arms adapted for swinging.