ape
UK: eɪp | US: eɪp
n. 1. A large primate lacking a tail, such as a gorilla, chimpanzee, or orangutan.
n. 2. (Informal) A person who mimics or imitates others.
vt. To imitate or copy (someone or something), often clumsily.
The word "ape" traces back to Old English apa, derived from Proto-Germanic apô, meaning "monkey" or "ape." It shares roots with Old Norse api and Dutch aap. Unlike many animal names borrowed from Latin or Greek, "ape" is a native Germanic term, reflecting its ancient presence in Northern European languages. Its meaning expanded metaphorically to describe imitation ("to ape") in the 17th century, likely due to apes' observed mimicry of human actions.
The gorilla is the largest living ape.
Children often ape the behavior of their parents.
His clumsy attempts to ape the famous dancer made everyone laugh.
Scientists study apes to understand human evolution.
Stop aping your brother—think for yourself!