noun
chimpanzee
chim-pan-ZEE/ˌtʃɪmpænˈziː/
An intelligent African ape closely related to humans.
The chimpanzee uses a slender twig to draw insects from a mound.
Etymology
The name comes from a Bantu language of Angola. The cited Tshiluba comparison, kivili-chimpenze, means “ape,” but does not establish the exact original form or its internal pieces.
In context
a chimpanzee is a closer cousin to a human than it is to a gorilla or an orangutan.
More examples
- A young chimpanzee clings to its mother's back.
- The chimpanzees communicate through gestures and calls.
- Researchers observe the chimpanzee from a distance.
Forms
chimpanzee · chimpanzees
Similar words
- gorilla
- A gorilla is another African ape, generally larger and belonging to a different genus.