prance n : a proud stiff pompous gait [syn: strut, swagger]

1 to walk with a lofty proud gait, often in an attempt to impress others; "He struts around like a rooster in a hen house" [syn: swagger, ruffle, strut, sashay, cock]

2 spring foward on the hind legs; "The young horse was prancing in the meadow"

3 cause (a horse) to bound spring forward

4 ride a horse such that it springs and bounds forward

English

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -ɑːns

Noun

1. The act of prancing.

Verb

1. In the context of "of a horse": To spring forwards on the hind legs.
2. colloquial figurative To strut about.

Translations

Sir Ghillean Tolmie Prance (b. 13 July 1937) is a prominent British botanist and ecologist.

He has published extensively on the taxonomy of families such as Chrysobalanaceae and Lecythidaceae, but he perhaps drew more attention in documenting the pollination ecology of Victoria amazonica. The foremost public office he held was as director of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (1988-1999). He was knighted in 1995. Since his retirement he has remained very active, notably involving himself with the Eden project. Prance, a devout Christian, is currently the president of Christians in Science.

A biography of Prance was written by Clive Langmead.

Bibliography

• Ghillean Tolmie Prance, Photos by Sandved, Kjell B. Leaves: The formation, charactistics and uses of hundred of leaves in all parts of the world; 324 photographic plates in both black/white, and colour. London: Thames and Hudson publishers (ISBN 0 500 54104 3)
• A Passion for plants. The Story of Ghillean Prance's Life from the Forests of Brazil to Kew Gardens (1st edition - 1995; 2nd edition - 2001; ISBN 1-900347-76-8)

Video

• A Passion for Plants (DVD), Christian Television Association (of the UK)

External links

• Biography
• Honours list
• A 1998 interview
• 2005 Interview
• University of Reading
• Au sable
• Photograph

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