Logo
dictionary thesaurus

prehension

noun
pre·​hen·​sion | \ prē-ˈhen(t)-shən How to pronounce prehension (audio) \

Definition of prehension

1 : the act of taking hold, seizing, or grasping
2a : mental understanding : comprehension
b : apprehension by the senses
Did You Know? Example Sentences Learn More about prehension

Keep scrolling for more

Did You Know?

It's easy to grasp the origins of "prehension" - it descends from the Latin verb prehendere, which means "to seize" or "to grasp." Other descendants of "prehendere" in English include "apprehend," "comprehend" ("to grasp the nature or significance of"), "prehensile" ("adapted for seizing or grasping"), "prison," "reprise," and "reprisal." Even the English word get comes to us from the same ancient root that led to the Latin prehendere.

Examples of prehension in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

 Prehension was seen as a key development for the USC/Belgrade Hand. — Jose Fermoso, WIRED, "Interview: USC’s George Bekey on Past and Future Robot Hands," 26 Sep. 2008

First Known Use of prehension

circa 1828, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Keep scrolling for more

Keep scrolling for more

More Definitions for prehension

prehension

noun
pre·​hen·​sion | \ prē-ˈhen-chən How to pronounce prehension (audio) \

Medical Definition of prehension

: the act of taking hold, seizing, or grasping

WORD OF THE DAY

convivial

play

See Definitions and Examples

Get Word of the Day daily email!