anthropoid ape

American  

[an-thruh-poid eyp] / ˈæn θrəˌpɔɪd ˈeɪp /

noun

1. any member of the former taxonomic suborder Anthropoidea, under which New World monkeys, Old World monkeys, and apes, including humans, were grouped: modern classification groups these under the suborder Haplorhini along with the tarsiers.

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anthropoid ape British  

noun

1. any primate of the family Pongidae, having no tail, elongated arms, and a highly developed brain. The group includes gibbons, orang-utans, chimpanzees, and gorillas

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anthropoid ape Scientific  

/ ăn′thrə-poid′ /

1. A primate belonging to the family Pongidae, which includes the chimpanzee, bonobo, gorilla, and orangutan. Orangutans are arboreal whereas the other three species are terrestrial or semiarboreal. Anthropoid apes move in trees mainly by arm-swinging and on the ground by quadrupedal walking in which the upper body weight is borne on the knuckles.

2. Also called great ape pongid

3. Compare hominid

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Etymology

Origin of anthropoid ape

First recorded in 1830–40

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

anthropoid ape

But before Tyler could move to obey, the anthropoid ape made his surprise move, and did a thing which no ape would have thought of doing.

From The Mind Master by Arthur J. Burks

We no longer strive to compete with the lion, the panther, the great anthropoid ape, in force or agility; in beauty with the flower or the shine of the stars on the sea.

From The Buried Temple by Alfred Sutro

This is the gap between the intellect of the anthropoid ape and that of primitive man, the one important last chapter in the story of mental evolution.

From Man And His Ancestor A Study In Evolution by Charles Morris

The whole of nature's influences, in new and often adverse situations, have been brought to bear upon man's mind, and as the result we have civilized man as contrasted with the anthropoid ape.

From Man And His Ancestor A Study In Evolution by Charles Morris

But before he could himself recognize the syllables of the scientist's name, through the whole room rang the bellowing challenge of a giant anthropoid ape.

From Astounding Stories, June, 1931 by Various