gorilla
Americannoun
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a terrestrial, largely vegetarian great ape of the genus Gorilla , inhabiting central African forests: possessing great upper body strength, with arms longer and more muscular than its legs, it is noted for its knuckle-walking and is larger than any other living primate.
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an ugly, brutish person.
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Slang. a hoodlum or thug, especially one who threatens or inflicts violence.
Like any mob boss, he sent his gorillas to do the dirty work.
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Disparaging and Offensive. (used as a slur against a member of a racial or ethnic minority group, especially a Black person.)
noun
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the largest anthropoid ape, Gorilla gorilla, inhabiting the forests of central W Africa. It is stocky and massive, with a short muzzle and coarse dark hair
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informal a large, strong, and brutal-looking man
Sensitive Note
See simianization.
Other Word Forms
- gorilla-like adjective
- gorillalike adjective
- gorillian adjective
- gorilline adjective
- gorilloid adjective
Etymology
Origin of gorilla
First recorded in 1845–50; from New Latin, from Greek Goríllās (accusative plural) name for the females of a hairy tribe encountered in an account of a voyage along the coast of Africa made by the Carthaginian Hanno in the 5th century b.c.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The very thought of jungles brought up visions of all kinds of man-eating things like lions, tigers, and gorillas.
From Literature
It will also touch on the challenges they faced along the way, including a coup in the Comoros, being shot at, as well as Sir David's famous encounter with gorillas in Rwanda.
From BBC
Strong "gorilla" pincers are used for picking up heavier boxes or, for more delicate items, a suction device can be used.
From BBC
“Mr. Grayson,” Bat said, “did you know that gorillas can catch human colds and other illnesses?”
From Literature
"Unlock the gorilla in the cage, it has to come out," he says.
From BBC
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
