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ape definition

ape (āp)

noun

  1. any gibbon or great ape
  2. loosely any Old or New World monkey
  3. a person who imitates; mimic
  4. a person who is uncouth, gross, clumsy, etc.

Etymology: ME < OE apa; akin to Ger affe < Gmc *apan, prob. < OSlav opica

transitive verb aped, aping ap′·ing

to imitate or mimic

Related Forms:

ape Idioms

go ape

Slang to become mad; also, to become wildly enthusiastic

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

ape Synonyms

ape

n.

anthropoid ape, great ape, primate, simian, gorilla, chimpanzee, orangutan, baboon, gibbon, siamang; see also monkey.


ape

v.

imitate, copy, mimic, impersonate; see imitate 2. See syn. study atimitate.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

ape Usage Examples

Object

  • style: TV Go Home A fake TV listings which apes the style of the TV Times and their ilk very well.

Converse of object

  • go: Link Honolulu Zoo Going Ape Over Contributions Going ape over contributions.

Adjective modifier

Modifies a noun

  • rescue: This adorable little bundle is the latest member to join the family at Monkey World ape rescue center at Wool, near Wareham.

Modifying Another Word

  • still: If we come from apes why are there still apes?

Noun used with modifier

  • orang-utan: Voluntary work with animals - Orang-utan Conservation Another gravely endangered species is the orang-utan ape - the only great ape found outside of Africa.
ape usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

ape quotes

The feat represents immense achievement for the neotenic ape, species Homo sapiens. But behind this lie twooldattributesoftheapeötribalismandinquisitiveness.

-Aldiss, BrianWilson

The question is this: is man an ape or an angel? I am on the side of the angels.

-Disraeli, Benjamin, 1st Earl of Beaconsfield

How like us is that ugly brute, the ape!

-Ennius, Quintus Ennius

ape quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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MLA Style

"ape." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 5 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/ape>

APA Style

ape. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 5th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/ape

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