the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English
noun-plural. The highest order of mammals. It includes man, together with the apes and monkeys. Cf. pitheci.
The Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia
The first Linnean order of Mammalia, composed of the four genera Homo, Simia, Lemur, and Vespertilio, or man, monkeys, lemurs, and bats.
Now, the first or highest order of Mammalia, including man, monkeys, and lemurs.
WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
n. an animal order including lemurs and tarsiers and monkeys and apes and human beings
Word Usage
"As one might expect, primates without color vision tend to have furry faces and hands and thus less need to perceive skin color; primates with color vision are more “naked” in this respect, humans most of all."