gorilla
a terrestrial, largely vegetarian great ape of the genus Gorilla, inhabiting central African forests: possessing great upper body strength, with arms longer and more muscular than its legs, it is noted for its knuckle-walking and is larger than any other living primate.: See also Cross River gorilla, eastern gorilla, eastern lowland gorilla, mountain gorilla, western gorilla, western lowland gorilla.
an ugly, brutish person.
Slang. a hoodlum or thug, especially one who threatens or inflicts violence: Like any mob boss, he sent his gorillas to do the dirty work.
Disparaging and Offensive. (used as a slur against a member of a racial or ethnic minority group, especially a Black person.)
Origin of gorilla
1usage note For gorilla
Other words from gorilla
- go·ril·la·like, adjective
- go·ril·li·an, adjective
- go·ril·line [guh-ril-ahyn, -in], /gəˈrɪl aɪn, -ɪn/, adjective
- go·ril·loid, adjective
Words that may be confused with gorilla
- gorilla , guerrilla
Words Nearby gorilla
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use gorilla in a sentence
Francine Patterson is the animal psychologist who became famous for training Koko the gorilla to communicate using what she called “gorilla Sign Language.”
Solution to Evan Birnholz’s Jan. 31 Post Magazine crossword, “That Makes No Sense” | Evan Birnholz | January 31, 2021 | Washington PostBlackRock, Wall Street’s 800-pound gorilla, is putting climate change risk at the center of its investing strategy.
For Quartz members—Forcing Wall Street to face climate change | Kira Bindrim | January 14, 2021 | QuartzThe San Diego Zoo’s description of an October incident when gorillas in an exhibit got into a rumble and broke a layer of the window glass separating the animals from peopleEven the gorillas are sick of this year.
2020 in Quotes: Anger, Apologies and Real Talk | Randy Dotinga | December 30, 2020 | Voice of San DiegoHe’s the 900-pound gorilla when it comes to the Republican Party.
Even in defeat, the embers of Trumpism still burn in the Republican Party | Robert Costa, Philip Rucker, Josh Dawsey | November 9, 2020 | Washington PostAs she imaged more and more, “I started to get a feel for the difference between human and gorilla hearts,” says Kutinsky.
When physicians and veterinarians team up, all species benefit | Liz Devitt | November 5, 2020 | Science News For Students
Sitting up there at that little spindly-legged organ, he looked enormous, bigger than life, like a gorilla at a harpsichord.
Then twelve guys come out and beat the gorilla over the head.
The Stacks: Mr. Bad Taste and Trouble Himself: Robert Mitchum | Robert Ward | July 19, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTKerr was adamant that the gorilla tie was not a statement about evolution, but “about life.”
Crucifixes, Gorillas, and Adult Diapers: My March Against Gay Marriage | Olivia Nuzzi | June 20, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTIn Uganda, the World Wildlife Fund estimates each gorilla rakes in $1 million in revenue each year.
Can Gorillas Save the Democratic Republic of the Congo? | Nina Strochlic | April 28, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTA hunter comes across a sickly gorilla, too weak to defend itself from the blows of his cleaver.
Already Deadly in Africa, Could Ebola Hit America Next? | Scott Bixby | April 5, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTAgain, we have the fact that man possesses normally only twelve ribs, one less than is found in the gorilla and the chimpanzee.
Man And His Ancestor | Charles MorrisThe young gorilla which was kept in captivity at Berlin became quite omnivorous in its diet.
Man And His Ancestor | Charles MorrisIt is shortest in the chimpanzee, somewhat longer in the gorilla, still longer in the orang, and remarkably long in the gibbon.
Man And His Ancestor | Charles MorrisIt would be as useful to attempt to give the history of the gorilla as of man in the early stages of his progress.
Man And His Ancestor | Charles MorrisThe "gorilla Warfare" (mentioned last week) having failed, the enemy tries a new dodge.
British Dictionary definitions for gorilla
/ (ɡəˈrɪlə) /
the largest anthropoid ape, Gorilla gorilla, inhabiting the forests of central W Africa. It is stocky and massive, with a short muzzle and coarse dark hair
informal a large, strong, and brutal-looking man
Origin of gorilla
1Derived forms of gorilla
- gorilla-like, adjective
- gorillian or gorilline (ɡəˈrɪlaɪn), adjective
- gorilloid, adjective
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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