View synonyms for monkey

monkey

[ muhng-kee ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

, plural mon·keys.

any of more than 250 species of simian primates belonging to the two distinct lines of New World monkeys and Old World monkeys.
the fur of certain species of such long-haired animals.
a person whose behavior is likened to such an animal, as a mischievous, agile child or a mimic:
My nephew is the most adorable little monkey—he'll try to climb anything he can reach.
Disparaging and Offensive. (used as a slur against a member of a racial or ethnic minority group, especially a Black person.)
a dance, deriving from the twist, in which the partners move their hands as if climbing a pole and jerk their heads back and forth.
Slang. an addiction to narcotics.
any of various mechanical devices, as the ram of a pile driver.
Coal Mining. a small passageway or opening.
British Slang. the sum of 500 pounds.
Australian Informal. a sheep.

verb (used without object)

, mon·keyed, mon·key·ing.

Informal. to play or trifle idly; fool (often followed by around or with ).

verb (used with object)

, mon·keyed, mon·key·ing.

to imitate; ape; mimic.
to mock.

monkey

/ ˈmʌŋkɪ /

noun

any of numerous long-tailed primates excluding the prosimians (lemurs, tarsiers, etc): comprise the families Cercopithecidae (Old World monkeys), Cebidae (New World monkeys), and Callithricidae (marmosets) See Old World monkey New World monkey simian
any primate except man
a naughty or mischievous person, esp a child
the head of a pile-driver ( monkey engine ) or of some similar mechanical device
modifier nautical denoting a small light structure or piece of equipment contrived to suit an immediate purpose
a monkey foresail
a monkey bridge
slang.
an addict's dependence on a drug
slang.
a butt of derision; someone made to look a fool (esp in the phrase make a monkey of )
slang.
(esp in bookmaking) £500
slang.
$500
slang.
a sheep
give a monkey's slang.
to care about or regard as important
who gives a monkey's what he thinks?
have a monkey on one's back slang.
1. to be troubled by a persistent problem
2. to be addicted to a drug

verb

intr; usually foll by around, with, etc to meddle, fool, or tinker
rare.
tr to imitate; ape

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Sensitive Note

See simianization.

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Other Words From

mon·key·ish adjective
mon·key·ish·ly adverb
mon·key·ish·ness noun

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Word History and Origins

Origin of monkey¹

First recorded in 1520–30; origin uncertain; possibly from Low German; compare Middle Low German Moneke (name of son of Martin the Ape in the story of Reynard the Fox ), equivalent to mone- (akin to obsolete French monne “she-ape,” Spanish, Portuguese mono “ape”) + -ke diminutive suffix

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Word History and Origins

Origin of monkey¹

C16: perhaps from Low German; compare Middle Low German Moneke name of the ape's son in the tale of Reynard the Fox

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Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

a monkey on one's back, Slang.
1. an addiction to a drug or drugs; narcotic dependency.
2. an enduring and often vexing habit or urge.
3. a burdensome problem, situation, or responsibility; personal affliction or hindrance.
make a monkey out of, to cause to appear ridiculous; make a fool of. Also make a monkey of.

More idioms and phrases containing monkey

fool (monkey) around
make a fool (monkey) of
more fun than a barrel of monkeys
throw a monkey wrench

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

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