monkey
monkey
Pronunciation
Monkey: /ˈmʌŋ.ki/
First Syllable (mon-):
/m/ - voiced bilabial nasal
/ʌ/ - near-open front unrounded vowel
/ŋ/ - voiced velar nasal
Second Syllable (-key):
/k/ - voiceless velar plosive
/i/ - close front unrounded vowel
Word Form Variations
Singular Noun: monkey
Plural Noun: monkeys
Verb (base form): monkey
Verb (third-person singular present): monkeys
Verb (present participle): monkeying
Verb (past tense/past participle): monkeyed
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
Monkey (plural: monkeys)
Definition: A primate of the order Primates, typically characterized by a tail, a relatively small body size compared to apes, and often arboreal habits. Monkeys are generally intelligent and social animals found in various parts of the world, particularly tropical and subtropical regions.
Synonyms: primate, simian
Antonyms: (No direct antonyms for a specific animal classification, but could be contrasted with other animal types like "reptile" or "bird" if emphasizing difference in class)
Definition: (Informal, often endearing) A mischievous or playful person, especially a child, who behaves in an agile or amusing way.
Synonyms: rascal, imp, scamp, urchin (for a child)
Antonyms: angel, saint (when referring to behavior)
Verb
Monkey (third-person singular present: monkeys, present participle: monkeying, past tense/past participle: monkeyed)
Definition: To play or fiddle with something in a casual, often clumsy, or unauthorized way, typically to fix or adjust it, but sometimes resulting in damage or a mess.
Synonyms: tinker, meddle, tamper, mess (with)
Antonyms: fix, repair, leave alone, ignore
Definition: (Informal) To behave in a silly, playful, or mischievous manner; to fool around.
Synonyms: fool around, goof around, play, cavort
Antonyms: work, concentrate, be serious
Examples of Use
Books:
"He could feel the familiar weight of the book in his hands, a habit formed from years of being an academic, a literary monkey chained to the page." (From "The Secret History" by Donna Tartt)
"Curious George, the little monkey, was always getting into trouble." (From "Curious George" by H.A. Rey)
Newspapers:
"Zookeepers at the local sanctuary welcomed a new baby monkey this week, a critically endangered species." ( The Daily Herald)
"Authorities warned against monkeying with electrical wires after a series of power outages across the district." (The Gazette)
Online Publications:
"Why are we still monkeying around with fossil fuels when renewable energy solutions are readily available?" (Article on ClimateChangeToday.org)
"Researchers observed the intelligent problem-solving skills of a group of Capuchin monkeys using tools to extract food." (ScienceDaily.com)
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Film: "The Planet of the Apes" franchise often features intelligent monkeys (apes, specifically) in leading roles. (e.g., Dawn of the Planet of the Apes)
Music: The song "Monkey Wrench" by the Foo Fighters refers to a tool, but "monkey" here informally suggests a problematic element. (From the album The Colour and the Shape)
Television: "Friends" featured Ross Geller's pet monkey, Marcel, in several episodes. (e.g., "The One With The Monkey,")
Video Games: Many games, such as the "Super Monkey Ball" series, feature monkeys as central characters or elements. (e.g., Super Monkey Ball Deluxe)
General Public Discourse:
"Don't monkey with that old engine if you don't know what you're doing; you might break it worse." (Heard in a garage conversation)
"My little nephew is such a monkey, always climbing on everything!" (Common expression heard in casual conversation)
"The politician accused his opponent of just monkeying around with the budget instead of offering real solutions." (Political commentary)
10 Quotes Using Monkey
"Never hold discussions with the monkey when the organ grinder is in the room." (Winston Churchill)
"Democracy is the art and science of running the circus from the monkey cage." (H. L. Mencken)
"Just cause you got the monkey off your back doesn't mean the circus has left town." (George Carlin)
"Monkeys are superior to men in this: when a monkey looks into a mirror, he sees a monkey." (Malcolm de Chazal)
"An American monkey, after getting drunk on brandy, would never touch it again, and thus is much wiser than most men." (Charles Darwin)
"The problem is to keep the monkey mind from running off into all kinds of thoughts." (Lee Kuan Yew)
"Without pain, without sacrifice we would have nothing. Like the first monkey shot into space." (Chuck Palahniuk, Fight Club)
"If you had a million Shakespeares, could they write like a monkey?" (Steven Wright)
"Don't take yourself so seriously. You're just a monkey with a plan." (Naval Ravikant)
"If we are not willing to let go knotty and prickly issues in time, our mental frame can be wrecked before long. One must be prepared to get the monkey off the back, eventually." (Erik Pevernagie)
Etymology
The word "monkey" has a rather debated and uncertain origin, but here's the most widely accepted explanation:
Before the 16th century, the general word used in English for all primates (excluding humans) was "ape." The word "monkey" started appearing in English around the mid-1500s, with one of the earliest known uses being in 1530 by John Palsgrave, a scholar.
The most popular theory is that "monkey" comes from a character's name, "Moneke," which appeared in a German version of the popular fable "Reynard the Fox," published in 1498. In this story, Moneke was the son of Martin the Ape. It's thought that this name, or a similar playful term, might have been borrowed into English, possibly through Middle Low German or Middle Dutch. The "-ke" at the end of "Moneke" is a diminutive suffix, meaning "little."
Some also believe it might be connected to Romance languages like Old French "monne" or Spanish "mona," which also referred to apes or monkeys. There's even a theory that these words might ultimately trace back to the Arabic word "maymūn," meaning "auspicious" or "blessed," which was used euphemistically for monkeys because seeing them was considered unlucky by some.
So, while the exact path is a bit foggy, the word "monkey" likely started as a playful or informal term for a primate, possibly influenced by a character's name in a popular story, and then gained common usage, eventually distinguishing itself from the broader term "ape."
Phrases + Idioms Containing Monkey
Monkey business: Mischievous or deceitful behavior; fooling around.
To make a monkey out of someone: To make someone look foolish or ridiculous.
To get the monkey off one's back: To overcome a problem or addiction.
Monkey see, monkey do: Refers to someone who imitates others' actions without understanding.
Greased lightning monkey: (Lesser-known/colloquial) Someone or something very fast and agile.
To monkey with something: To tamper or mess with something, often in a clumsy or unauthorized way.
Brass monkey weather: Extremely cold weather (from the phrase "cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey").
More fun than a barrel of monkeys: Extremely entertaining or enjoyable.
To have a monkey on one's back: To be addicted to something, typically drugs.
Three wise monkeys: Refers to the "see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil" proverb, often used to describe willful ignorance.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of monkey from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
