monkey
mon·key / ˈməngkē/ • n. (pl. -eys) 1. a small to medium-sized primate that typically has a long tail, most kinds of which live in trees in tropical countries. The New World monkeys (families Cebidae and Callitrichidae, or Callithricidae) have prehensile tails; the Old World monkeys (family Cercopithecidae) do not. ∎ (in general use) any primate. ∎ a mischievous person, esp. a child: you little monkey! ∎ fig. a person who is dominated or controlled by another (with reference to the monkey traditionally kept by an organ grinder). 2. a pile-driving machine consisting of a heavy hammer or ram working vertically in a groove.• v. (-eys, -eyed) [intr.] (monkey around/about) behave in a silly or playful way. ∎ (monkey with) tamper with. ∎ [tr.] archaic ape; mimic.PHRASES: make a monkey of (or out of) someone humiliate someone by making them appear ridiculous.a monkey on one's back inf. a burdensome problem. ∎ a dependence on drugs.