ape

/eɪp/

/eɪp/

Other forms: apes; aping; aped

To ape someone is to imitate them, often in a mocking way. Most people don't like being aped.

To ape is to imitate, but it can mean a few different things. One type of aping is to blatantly imitate something or someone in every way. That's considered a bad thing because it's so unoriginal — it's a rip-off. Another kind of aping is like a caricature — to ape in this way is a way of making fun or spoofing someone. Either way, you probably don't want to be accused of aping.

Definitions of ape

1. noun

   any of various primates with short tails or no tail at all
   types:

   anthropoid ape

   any tailless ape of the families Pongidae and Hylobatidae

   great ape, pongid

   any of the large anthropoid apes of the family Pongidae

   lesser ape

   gibbons and siamangs

   type of:

   primate

   any placental mammal of the order Primates; has good eyesight and flexible hands and feet
2. verb

   represent a person with comic exaggeration
   synonyms: caricature

   type of:

   mock

   imitate with mockery and derision
3. verb

   imitate uncritically and in every aspect
   “Her little brother apes her behavior”

   type of:

   imitate

   appear like, as in behavior or appearance
4. noun

   someone who copies the words or behavior of another
   synonyms: aper, copycat, emulator, imitator

   types:

   epigon, epigone

   an inferior imitator of some distinguished writer or artist of musician

   parrot

   a copycat who does not understand the words or acts being imitated

   type of:

   individual, mortal, person, somebody, someone, soul

   a human being
5. noun

   an awkward, foolish person
   synonyms: clod, gawk, goon, lout, lubber, lummox, lump, nimrod, oaf, stumblebum

   type of:

   clumsy person

   a person with poor motor coordination