Definition of prone
(Entry 1 of 2)
1
: having a tendency or inclination : being likely
—often used with to
prone to forget names His relatives are prone to heart disease. Those batteries are prone to corrosion. a process that's prone to error … a great quarterback prone to the occasional, inevitable mistake.— John McGrath This means the results should be interpreted cautiously, as smaller sample sizes are prone to being influenced by chance. — nhs.uk
—often used in combination accident-pronea drought-prone region
2a
: having the front or ventral surface of a body facing downward : lying with the chest and stomach positioned downward
a patient placed in a prone position The victim was lying prone in the street.
b
: lying flat or prostrate
prone stems
prone
verb
proned; proning; prones
Definition of prone (Entry 2 of 2)
1
transitive,
medical
: to place (oneself or another person) in a prone position with the chest and stomach facing downward especially to increase blood oxygenation
Ventilated patients are typically proned for 16 hours, but at Mass General, Dr. [C. Corey] Hardin said, some are proned for 24 or 48 hours.— Pam Belluck If patients are alert, they can turn, or prone, themselves every couple hours. If they're ventilated, it could take a team of up to half a dozen health care workers 20 minutes to carefully prone a patient, who might then stay on their stomach for up to 24 hours.— Mallory Moench
— see also proning entry 1
2a
transitive
: to cause or order (a person) to lie flat on the ground with the face and stomach facing downward
They were proned and handcuffed. He was ordered to prone himself.
— often used with out … [Sergeant Jeremy] Glass said handcuffing in the prone position is the method that is taught under the state's Basic Law Enforcement Training standards. …"Subjects end up being proned out in about 60% of physical force encounters …," Glass said.— John HendersonHumboldt County Sheriff's Office Lt. Steve Knight said deputies found the man …. Two deputies drew their firearms and "proned him out at gunpoint," Knight said … .— Luke Ramseth
b
intransitive
: to lie flat on one's stomach on the ground
—usually used with out He immediately proned out when told to do so.
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Time Traveler for prone
The first known use of prone was in the 14th century
See more words from the same century