noun
extinct species of primitive hominid with upright stature but small brain
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Homo erectus was formerly called Pithecanthropus erectus
• Hypernyms: ↑homo, ↑man, ↑human being, ↑human
• Hyponyms: ↑Java man, ↑Trinil man, ↑Peking man
• Member Holonyms: ↑genus Homo
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\\-ə̇ˈrektəs\ nounUsage: usually capitalized H
: an extinct large-brained hominid of the genus Homo (H. erectus) that is known from fossil remains in Africa, Europe, and Asia, is estimated to have flourished from 1.6 million years ago to 250,000 years ago, is thought to be the first hominid to master fire and inhabit caves, and is believed to be the immediate ancestor of modern man
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/hoh"moh i rek"teuhs/
1. an extinct species of the human lineage, formerly known as Pithecanthropus erectus, having upright stature and a well-evolved postcranial skeleton, but with a smallish brain, low forehead, and protruding face. See illus. under hominid.
2. a fossil belonging to this species. Cf. Arago man, Java man, Peking man.
[1970-75; < NL: upright man]
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Homo erectus noun
(formerly known as Pithecanthropus erectus) a name given to a type of erect hominid between Australopithecus and Homo sapiens, represented by Java man and Peking man
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Main Entry: ↑homo
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an ancient creature from which humans developed that was able to walk upright
Thesaurus: time before history was written downhyponym
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Homo erectus 7 [Homo erectus] [ˌhɒməʊ ɪˈrektəs] [ˌhəʊməʊ ɪˈrektəs] [ˌhoʊmoʊ ɪˈrektəs] noun uncountable (from Latin, technical)
an early form of human which was able to walk on two legs
Useful english dictionary. 2012.