Main Entry:

prone

Pronunciation:

\ˈprōn\

Function:

adjective

Etymology:

Middle English, from Latin pronus bent forward, tending; akin to Latin pro forward — more at for

Date:

14th century

1: having a tendency or inclination : being likely <prone to forget names> <accident-prone>2 a: having the front or ventral surface downward b: lying flat or prostrate

— prone adverb

— prone·ly adverb

— prone·ness \ˈprōn-nəs\ noun

synonyms prone, supine, prostrate, recumbent mean lying down. prone implies a position with the front of the body turned toward the supporting surface <push-ups require a prone position>. supine implies lying on one's back and suggests inertness or abjectness <lying supine on the couch>. prostrate implies lying full-length as in submission, defeat, or physical collapse <a runner fell prostrate at the finish line>. recumbent implies the posture of one sleeping or resting <a patient comfortably recumbent in a hospital bed>.

synonyms see in addition liable