ape

UK: /ˈeɪp/ US: /eɪp/ ,(āp)

Inflections of 'ape' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

apes

v 3rd person singular

aping

v pres p

aped

v past

aped

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

ape /eɪp/   n., v., aped, ap•ing. 
n. [countable]

1. Mammals a manlike animal similar to monkeys, with long arms, a broad chest, and no tail.
2. an imitator;
   mimic.
3. Informal Terms a large, clumsy person.

v. [~ + object]

4. to imitate;
   mimic:
   tried to ape the mannerisms of the hostess.

Idioms

5. Idioms go ape, Slang. to become violently emotional or angry:
   My parents will go ape if I stay out that late.
6. Idioms go ape over, [~ + object] to be extremely enthusiastic about:
   goes ape over rock stars.

ape•like, adj. 

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

ape  (āp), n., v., aped, ap•ing. 
n. 

1. Mammals 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.
2. Mammals (loosely) any primate except humans.
3. an imitator;
   mimic.
4. Informal Terms a big, ugly, clumsy person.

v.t. 

5. to imitate;
   mimic:
   to ape another's style of writing.
6. go ape, [Slang.] to become violently emotional:
   When she threatened to leave him, he went ape.
7. go ape over, [Slang.] to be extremely enthusiastic about:
   They go ape over old rock music.

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

ape′like′, adj. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

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
2. (not in technical use) any monkey
3. an imitator; mimic

verb

1. (transitive) to imitate

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

ˈapeˌlike adjective