A monkey is an animal like a small ape. It often lives in forests and climbs trees well. People often see monkeys in zoos or nature.
The monkey is eating a banana.
Look at the monkey in the tree.
People sometimes call someone a 'monkey' when they are funny or do silly things. It is often a playful word, not very serious.
Stop being a monkey and listen.
He is such a monkey at school today.
Sometimes, 'monkey' is used for a machine or toy that moves like a person or animal. It shows that the machine acts like a real monkey.
The robot monkey helped in the factory.
This toy monkey can move and clap.
To 'monkey' means to copy or make fun of someone by copying how they do something. It can also mean to try to change or play with something in a careless way.
He monkied his teacher in the class.
Don’t monkey with my work, please.
To 'monkey' with something means to try to fix or change it in a way that may cause problems. It is often used when the action is not good or safe.
Please do not monkey with the equipment.
They monkied inside the car's engine.
In some informal British English, 'monkey' is used to mean a small amount of money. People say it when speaking about money in a casual way.
I found a monkey in my pocket.
Can you lend me a monkey?
This meaning is about the action of copying someone in a funny or silly way. People can make a monkey to cheer or tease others.
He did a funny monkey of the teacher.
The monkey made everyone laugh.
