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great ape
noun
plural great apes
: any of several large primates including the orangutan, gorilla, chimpanzee, and bonobo that are classified in the same family (Hominidae) as humans
Examples of great ape in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The only behavior in the great ape repertoire that fulfills the same form, function, and context as kissing is the last step of grooming.
—Byphie Jacobs, science.org, 28 Oct. 2024
Drawing on his knowledge of great ape behavior, Lameira suggests kissing got its start as a fur grooming ritual still observed in modern-day chimpanzees and other great apes.
—Byphie Jacobs, science.org, 28 Oct. 2024
In 2015, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) recommended wearing masks in the presence of great apes, limiting the number of tourists per group to eight, restricting observation time to one hour, and maintaining a distance of seven metres between tourists and the animals.
—Harriet Marsden, The Week Uk, theweek, 5 Mar. 2024
The organization is dedicated to establishing sustainable, self-reliant projects that uplift the lives of local communities, champion the preservation of great apes, rehabilitate natural environments, and address human-wildlife conflicts.
—Travel + Leisure Editors, Travel + Leisure, 5 Oct. 2024
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Word History
First Known Use
1771, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near great ape
Cite this Entry
“Great ape.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/great%20ape. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.
Kids Definition
great ape
noun
: any of a family of apes that includes the gorilla, orangutan, and chimpanzee
More from Merriam-Webster on great ape
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about great ape
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