gorilla
[ guh-ril-uh ]
/ gəˈrɪl ə /
noun
the largest of the anthropoid apes, Gorilla gorilla, terrestrial and vegetarian, of western equatorial Africa and the Kivu highlands, comprising the subspecies G. g. gorilla (western lowland gorilla), G. g. graueri (eastern lowland gorilla), and G. g. beringei (mountain gorilla): now rare.
an ugly, brutish person.
Slang.
a hoodlum or thug, especially one who threatens or inflicts violence.
Origin of gorilla
1790–1800; < New Latin < Greek
Goríllās (accusative plural) name for the females of a hairy tribe encountered in Hanno's account of his voyage along the coast of Africa (5th century b.c.)
OTHER WORDS FROM gorilla
go·ril·la·like, adjective go·ril·li·an, go·ril·line [guh-ril-ahyn, -in] /gəˈrɪl aɪn, -ɪn/, adjective go·ril·loid, adjectiveWORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH gorilla
gorilla guerrillaWords nearby gorilla
Example sentences from the Web for gorilla
British Dictionary definitions for gorilla
gorilla
/ (ɡəˈrɪlə) /
noun
the largest anthropoid ape, Gorilla gorilla, inhabiting the forests of central W Africa. It is stocky and massive, with a short muzzle and coarse dark hair
informal
a large, strong, and brutal-looking man
Derived forms of gorilla
gorilla-like, adjective gorillian or gorilline (ɡəˈrɪlaɪn), adjective gorilloid, adjectiveWord Origin for gorilla
C19: New Latin, from Greek
Gorillai, an African tribe renowned for their hirsute appearance