ape

 
Pronunciation: /eɪp/

noun

  • 1a large primate that lacks a tail, including the gorilla, chimpanzees, orang-utan, and gibbons.
    • Families Pongidae and Hylobatidae
  • used in names of macaque monkeys with short tails, e.g. Barbary ape.
  • (in general use) any monkey.
  • 2an unintelligent or clumsy person.
  • 3 archaic an inferior imitator or mimic: cunning is but the ape of wisdom

verb

[with object] (apes, aping, aped)
  • imitate (someone or something), especially in an absurd or unthinking way: new architecture can respect the old without aping its style

Phrases

go ape (or vulgar slang, chiefly North American apeshit)

informal become very angry or excited: your kids will go ape over these frozen pops! Ricky would go apeshit if anything happened to Wayne

Derivatives

apelike

adjective

Origin:

Old English apa, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch aap and German Affe