ape

[ eyp ]

noun

1. Anthropology, Zoology. any member of the superfamily Hominoidea, the two extant branches of which are the lesser apes (gibbons) and the great apes (humans, chimpanzees, gorillas, and orangutans). catarrhine.
2. (loosely) any primate except humans.
3. an imitator; mimic.
4. Informal. a big, ugly, clumsy person.
5. Disparaging and Offensive. (used as a slur against a member of a racial or ethnic minority group, especially a Black person.)

verb (used with object)

, aped, ap·ing.

1. to imitate; mimic:

   to ape another's style of writing.

adjective

1. Slang. (usually in the phrase go ape )
   1. violently emotional:

      When she threatened to leave him, he went ape.

   2. extremely enthusiastic (often followed by over or for ):

      They go ape over old rock music.

      We were all ape for the new movie trailer.

ape

/ eɪp /

noun

1. 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
2. not in technical use any monkey
3. an imitator; mimic
4. informal.
   a coarse, clumsy, or rude person

verb

1. tr to imitate

Sensitive Note

See simianization.

Derived Forms

• ˈapeˌlike, adjective

Other Words From

• ape·like adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of ape¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English; Old English apa; cognate with Old Saxon apo, Old Norse api, Old High German affo ( German Affe ); further origin uncertain

Word History and Origins

Origin of ape¹

Old English apa; related to Old Saxon ape, Old Norse api, Old High German affo

Example Sentences

Occasionally a brave ape will point out that the company is diluting its shareholders’ interest by issuing so many shares.

From Slate

One way of tackling the workforce deficit, he says, is to ape the kind of economic model implemented by Japan, which has a similarly low birth rate, by investing heavily in algorithms and machines.

From BBC

Though caretakers had set up a cozy space filled with hammocks and blankets for the chimpanzee, upon arrival at his new home — an ape sanctuary on Florida’s Treasure Coast — he eschewed this private room.

From Los Angeles Times

The animal rights organization was alerted to Tonka’s whereabouts by the “Chimp Crazy” producers, who feared Tonia Haddix was going to euthanize the ape.

From Los Angeles Times

This was, after all, an animal she referred to as a “humanzee” — an ape who had spent his youth performing in Hollywood films like “Buddy” and “George of the Jungle.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• emulate
• imitate