monkey
Monkey (noun) means a small to medium-sized primate, typically with a tail, distinct from apes. Example: “The monkeys swung from branch to branch, chasing each other.”
How to use monkey
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA tree-dwelling primate — or, informally, a playful or mischievous person, or messing around with something.
Word forms
monkeyed past tense, monkied past tense, monkeys plural, monkies plural, monkeys singular
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The _____ swung from branch to branch, chasing each other.
Etymology
Origin uncertain; likely traced through Middle Low German to a name given to a monkey character in medieval fables, possibly ultimately from an Arabic word for baboon.
Related words
Rhymes for monkey
See all rhymes for monkey →Frequently asked questions
What does “monkey” mean?
The word “monkey” means a small to medium-sized primate, typically with a tail, distinct from apes. In plain terms, a tree-dwelling primate — or, informally, a playful or mischievous person, or messing around with something.
How do you pronounce “monkey”?
“Monkey” is pronounced MUHNG-kee (/ˈmʌŋki/ in IPA).
How do you use “monkey” in a sentence?
Here is “monkey” used in a sentence: “The monkeys swung from branch to branch, chasing each other.”
What part of speech is “monkey”?
Depending on how it is used, “monkey” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “monkey” come from?
The word “monkey” comes from German. Origin uncertain; likely traced through Middle Low German to a name given to a monkey character in medieval fables, possibly ultimately from an Arabic word for baboon.
Is “monkey” a common word?
“Monkey” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “monkey” have?
“Monkey” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a small to medium-sized primate, typically with a tail, distinct from apes.
What is the difference between a monkey and an ape?
The quickest visible difference is the tail: monkeys typically have tails, while apes — such as chimpanzees, gorillas, orangutans, and gibbons — do not. Apes are also generally larger-bodied, and despite popular usage, a chimpanzee is an ape, not a monkey.
Why do people call children monkeys?
Applied to a child, monkey is an affectionate word for someone mischievous or playful, as in the British "cheeky monkey." It compares the child's energy and mischief to a monkey's, and it is teasing rather than insulting.
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