ape
[ eyp ]
/ eɪp /
noun
any of a group of anthropoid primates characterized by long arms, a broad chest, and the absence of a tail, comprising the family Pongidae (great ape), which includes the chimpanzee, gorilla, and orangutan, and the family Hylobatidae (lesser ape), which includes the gibbon and siamang.
(loosely) any primate except humans.
an imitator; mimic.
Informal.
a big, ugly, clumsy person.
verb (used with object), aped, ap·ing.
to imitate; mimic: to ape another's style of writing.
Idioms for ape
go ape, Slang.
to become violently emotional: When she threatened to leave him, he went ape.
go ape over, Slang.
to be extremely enthusiastic about: They go ape over old rock music.
Origin of ape
before 900; Middle English; Old English
apa; cognate with Old Saxon
apo, Old Norse
api, Old High German
affo (German
Affe)
OTHER WORDS FROM ape
ape·like, adjectiveWords nearby ape
Example sentences from the Web for ape
British Dictionary definitions for ape
ape
/ (eɪp) /
noun
any of various primates, esp those of the family Pongidae, in which the tail is very short or absent
See anthropoid ape See also great ape
(not in technical use)
any monkey
an imitator; mimic
US informal
a coarse, clumsy, or rude person
verb
(tr)
to imitate
Derived forms of ape
apelike, adjectiveWord Origin for ape
Old English
apa; related to Old Saxon
ape, Old Norse
api, Old High German
affo