Adjacent Words

Monkey definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

MONKEY, n. The popular name of the ape and baboon. But in zoology, monkey is more properly the name of those animals of the genus Simia, which have long tails. Ray distributes animals of this kind into three classes; apes which have no tails; monkeys with long tails; and baboons with short tails.
1. A name of contempt or of slight kindness.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: any of various long-tailed primates (excluding the prosimians)
2: one who is playfully mischievous [syn: imp, scamp, monkey, rascal, rapscallion, scalawag, scallywag] v
1: play around with or alter or falsify, usually secretively or dishonestly; "Someone tampered with the documents on my desk"; "The reporter fiddle with the facts" [syn: tamper, fiddle, monkey]
2: do random, unplanned work or activities or spend time idly; "The old lady is usually mucking about in her little house" [syn: putter, mess around, potter, tinker, monkey, monkey around, muck about, muck around]

Merriam Webster's

I. noun (plural monkeys) Etymology: probably of Low German origin; akin to Moneke, name of an ape, probably of Romance origin; akin to Old Spanish mona monkey Date: circa 1530 1. a nonhuman primate mammal with the exception usually of the lemurs and tarsiers; especially any of the smaller longer-tailed catarrhine or platyrrhine primates as contrasted with the apes 2. a. a person resembling a monkey b. a ludicrous figure ; dupe 3. any of various machines, implements, or vessels; especially the falling weight of a pile driver 4. a desperate desire for or addiction to drugs — often used in the phrase monkey on one's back; broadly a persistent or annoying encumbrance or problem II. verb (monkeyed; monkeying) Date: 1859 transitive verb mimic, mock intransitive verb 1. to act in a grotesque or mischievous manner 2. a. fool, trifle — often used with around b. tamper — usually used with with

Britannica Concise

Any member of two tropical anthropoid primate groups: Old World monkeys and New World monkeys. Almost all species are tropical or subtropical, and almost all are diurnal. Most species are arboreal, using all four limbs to leap from tree to tree. They can sit upright and stand erect. Most species run along branches rather than swinging arm over arm like the apes. Monkeys are highly social omnivores, organized in clans as large as several hundred individuals headed by an old male. Sexually mature males of all species are always potent, and all nonpregnant females have a monthly menstrual cycle. Most species bear a single young, which is reared by the mother for years.

Oxford Reference Dictionary

n. & v. --n. (pl. -eys) 1 any of various New World and Old World primates esp. of the families Cebidae (including capuchins), Callitrichidae (including marmosets and tamarins), and Cercopithecidae (including baboons and apes). 2 a mischievous person, esp. a child (young monkey). 3 sl. a Brit. £500. b US $500. 4 (in full monkey engine) a machine hammer for pile-driving etc. --v. (-eys, -eyed) 1 tr. mimic or mock. 2 intr. (often foll. by with) tamper or play mischievous tricks. 3 intr. (foll. by around, about) fool around. Phrases and idioms: have a monkey on one's back sl. be a drug addict. make a monkey of humiliate by making appear ridiculous. monkey bread the baobab tree or its fruit. monkey business colloq. mischief. monkey flower a mimulus, esp. Mimulus cardinalis, with bright yellow flowers. monkey-jacket a short close-fitting jacket worn by sailors etc. or at a mess. monkey-nut a peanut. monkey-puzzle a coniferous tree, Araucaria araucaria, native to Chile, with downward-pointing branches and small close-set leaves. monkey-suit colloq. evening dress. monkey tricks colloq. mischief. monkey wrench a wrench with an adjustable jaw. Derivatives: monkeyish adj. Etymology: 16th c.: orig. unkn. (perh. LG)

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Monkey Mon"key, n.; pl. Monkeys. [Cf. OIt. monicchio, It. monnino, dim. of monna an ape, also dame, mistress, contr. fr. madonna. See Madonna.] 1. (Zo["o]l.) (a) In the most general sense, any one of the Quadrumana, including apes, baboons, and lemurs. (b) Any species of Quadrumana, except the lemurs. (c) Any one of numerous species of Quadrumana (esp. such as have a long tail and prehensile feet) exclusive of apes and baboons. Note: The monkeys are often divided into three groups: (a) Catarrhines, or Simid[ae]. These have an oblong head, with the oblique flat nostrils near together. Some have no tail, as the apes. All these are natives of the Old World. (b) Platyrhines, or Cebid[ae]. These have a round head, with a broad nasal septum, so that the nostrils are wide apart and directed downward. The tail is often prehensile, and the thumb is short and not opposable. These are natives of the New World. (c) Strepsorhines, or Lemuroidea. These have a pointed head with curved nostrils. They are natives of Southern Asia, Africa, and Madagascar. 2. A term of disapproval, ridicule, or contempt, as for a mischievous child. This is the monkey's own giving out; she is persuaded I will marry her. --Shak. 3. The weight or hammer of a pile driver, that is, a very heavy mass of iron, which, being raised on high, falls on the head of the pile, and drives it into the earth; the falling weight of a drop hammer used in forging. 4. A small trading vessel of the sixteenth century. Monkey boat. (Naut.) (a) A small boat used in docks. (b) A half-decked boat used on the River Thames. Monkey block (Naut.), a small single block strapped with a swivel. --R. H. Dana, Jr. Monkey flower (Bot.), a plant of the genus Mimulus; -- so called from the appearance of its gaping corolla. --Gray. Monkey gaff (Naut.), a light gaff attached to the topmast for the better display of signals at sea. Monkey jacket, a short closely fitting jacket, worn by sailors. Monkey rail (Naut.), a second and lighter rail raised about six inches above the quarter rail of a ship. Monkey shine, monkey trick. [Slang, U.S.] Monkey trick, a mischievous prank. --Saintsbury. Monkey wheel. See Gin block, under 5th Gin. Monkey wrench, a wrench or spanner having a movable jaw.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Monkey Mon"key, v. t. & i. To act or treat as a monkey does; to ape; to act in a grotesque or meddlesome manner. To monkey with, to handle in a meddlesome manner. [Colloq.]

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(monkeys) 1. A monkey is an animal with a long tail which lives in hot countries and climbs trees. N-COUNT 2. If you refer to a child as a monkey, you are saying in an affectionate way that he or she is very lively and naughty. She's such a little monkey. N-COUNT: usu adj N [feelings]

1811 Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue

To suck the monkey; to suck or draw wine, or any other liquor, privately out of a cask, by means of a straw, or small tube. Monkey's allowance; more kicks than halfpence. Who put that monkey on horseback without tying his legs? vulgar wit on a bad horseman.

Moby Thesaurus

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