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monkey

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The definition of a monkey is a mammal belonging to the order Primates or a person with mischievous or child-like behavior.

(noun)

An example of a monkey is an animal found in the zoo eating bananas.
An example of a monkey is a child who is being very silly.

See monkey in Webster's New World College Dictionary

noun pl. monkeys

1. any of several families of Old and New World primates usually having a flat, hairless face and a long tail
2. loosely any of other, similar primates, as a gibbon or chimpanzee
the fur of some species of long-haired monkeys
a person regarded as somehow like a monkey, as a mischievous or imitative child
any of various mechanical devices, as the iron block raised and dropped in a pile driver

Origin: Early ModE, prob. < or akin to MLowG Moneke, name applied in the beast epic Reynard the Fox to the son of Martin the Ape < Fr or Sp mona, ape < ? Ar maimūn, ape, lit., lucky (euphemism: the ape was regarded as the devil) + LowG -ke, -kin

intransitive verb

☆ Informal to play, fool, trifle, or meddle: often followed by around, with, or around with

transitive verb

Rare to mimic; ape

See monkey in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun pl. mon·keys

Any of various long-tailed, medium-sized members of the order Primates, including the macaques, baboons, guenons, capuchins, marmosets, and tamarins and excluding the anthropoid apes and the prosimians.
One who behaves in a way suggestive of a monkey, as a mischievous child or a mimic.
The iron block of a pile driver.
Slang A person who is mocked, duped, or made to appear a fool: They made a monkey out of him.
Slang Drug addiction: have a monkey on one's back.

verb mon·keyed, mon·key·ing, mon·keys

verb, intransitive
Informal