ape

Everyday

1. An ape is a large primate with no tail, such as a gorilla, chimpanzee, bonobo, orangutan or gibbon. tree →
2. (verb, a bit formal) To ape someone means to copy the way they act or talk, often in a silly way. tree →
3. (informal) «Go ape» means to get very excited or angry: «Dad went ape when he saw the mess». tree →

In the lessons

In science lessons pupils learn that apes are different from monkeys: apes have no tail, are usually bigger, and are very clever, using tools and solving problems. Humans are classed as great apes too. In conservation lessons, many apes are endangered because their forests are cut down. In stories «ape» can make a character sound big and clumsy.

Examples

• Gorillas are the largest apes. tree →
• An ape has no tail, but most monkeys do. tree →
• Orangutans are apes that live in the rainforests of Borneo and Sumatra. tree →
• The younger boy aped everything his big brother did. tree →
• Stop aping the teacher's voice! tree →
• The crowd went ape when we scored. tree →
• Chimpanzees are apes that use sticks as tools. tree →
• Do not try to ape your betters. tree →

Note

Plural «apes»; «an ape». Trap: apes and monkeys are not the same — check for a tail. Myth: humans did not evolve from today's apes; we share ancestors with them. «Go ape» is slang; avoid it in essays. «Aping» (copying) is a verb.

In Jewish tradition

Here it means one of the exotic goods, along with gold, silver, ivory, and peacocks, that Solomon's ships brought from far lands.

Interpretation. Tradition reads this list as a sign of Solomon's great wealth and wide trade.

Examples

• For the king had ships that went to Tarshish with the servants of Huram; once every three years came the ships of Tarshish, bringing gold, and silver, ivory, and apes, and peacocks. (Writings 2CH.9.21, JPS 1917) tree →
• For the king had at sea a navy of Tarshish with the navy of Hiram; once every three years came the navy of Tarshish, bringing gold, and silver, ivory, and apes, and peacocks. (Prophets 1KI.10.22, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Plural «apes»; «an ape». Trap: apes and monkeys are not the same — check for a tail. Myth: humans did not evolve from today's apes; we share ancestors with them. «Go ape» is slang; avoid it in essays. «Aping» (copying) is a verb.