spider monkey
Americannoun
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spider monkeys
plural
noun
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any of several arboreal New World monkeys of the genus Ateles, of Central and South America, having very long legs, a long prehensile tail, and a small head
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a rare related monkey, Brachyteles arachnoides, of SE Brazil
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of spider monkey
First recorded in 1755–65
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
A baby spider monkey discovered by the California Highway Patrol this week is in critical condition, but the Oakland Zoo hopes she will make a full recovery.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 17, 2025
Not only is it illegal to own primates as pets in California, but it’s also especially dangerous to own a baby spider monkey, experts say.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 1, 2025
Like the spider monkey, if a species relies on a specific food or a particular quality of tree, those needs will require conservation prioritization.
From Salon ● Jun. 6, 2024
At least six spider monkey species living in Central and South America are considered endangered, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources.
From BBC ● Aug. 6, 2023
No, that’s not right; I actually fell over my own feet, which felt like they were being remote-controlled by a spider monkey during a sleep-deprivation experiment.
From "Liar, Liar" by Gary Paulsen
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Get a wordDefinitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.