Pronunciation: o ̇ - ˌ str ā -l ō - ' pi-th ə - ˌ s ī n, ä-; ˌ o ̇ s-tr ə -, ˌ äs-
Function: noun
Etymology: ultimately from Latin australis + Greek pith ē kos ape
Date: 1943
: any of a genus ( Australopithecus ) of extinct southern and eastern African hominids that include gracile and robust forms with near-human dentition and a relatively small brain
– australopithecine adjective