DEFINITIONS

ape

[ eyp ]
/ eɪp /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR ape ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

any of a group of anthropoid primates characterized by long arms, a broad chest, and the absence of a tail, comprising the family Pongidae (great ape), which includes the chimpanzee, gorilla, and orangutan, and the family Hylobatidae (lesser ape), which includes the gibbon and siamang.
(loosely) any primate except humans.
an imitator; mimic.
Informal. a big, ugly, clumsy person.

verb (used with object), aped, ap·ing.

to imitate; mimic: to ape another's style of writing.

Content related to ape

All Of These Words Are Offensive (But Only Sometimes)English is confusing. And, many words have multiple meanings (and those meanings can be both good and bad), but as long as we're all trying to use these words in the kindest and best ways we can, that's all that matters.
READ MORE
Do Dogs Actually Understand Human Language?Anyone who has ever seen their dog hop to attention when they used the word “treat” knows that dogs obviously understand the same words as humans. But is it accurate to say that animals use language? Man’s best friend is hardly the only animal capable of amazing humans with communication skills. Extensive studies using gestural communication (sign language) explore the cognitive potential in the great apes. …
READ MORE

Words related to ape

imitate, emulate, do, caricature, ditto, parrot, counterfeit, echo, impersonate, travesty, mirror, affect, copy, mock, parody

Words nearby ape

apathy, apatite, apatosaurus, apb, apc, ape, ape hangers, ape-man, apeak, apec, apeldoorn

Idioms for ape

    go ape, Slang. to become violently emotional: When she threatened to leave him, he went ape.
    go ape over, Slang. to be extremely enthusiastic about: They go ape over old rock music.

Origin of ape

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

OTHER WORDS FROM ape

ape·like, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for ape

British Dictionary definitions for ape

ape
/ (eɪp) /

noun

any of various primates, esp those of the family Pongidae, in which the tail is very short or absentSee anthropoid ape See also great ape
(not in technical use) any monkey
an imitator; mimic
US informal a coarse, clumsy, or rude person

verb

(tr) to imitate

Derived forms of ape

apelike, adjective

Word Origin for ape

Old English apa; related to Old Saxon ape, Old Norse api, Old High German affo
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012