Gibbon
/'gibən/
Definition
- Noun:
- A type of ape: A gibbon is a small, highly agile, tree-dwelling ape characterized by very long arms, no tail, and a high degree of anatomical similarity to humans. It is native to the forests of Southeast Asia and the East Indies.
- A person's name (Edward Gibbon): Gibbon is the surname of an influential English historian, most famous for his multi-volume work The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire.
Usage Examples
- Noun (Animal):
- The loud, whooping call of the gibbon echoed through the rainforest canopy.
- Gibbons are known for their incredible ability to swing from branch to branch, a locomotion called brachiation.
- Noun (Person):
- Gibbon's historical analysis remains a cornerstone of classical scholarship.
- We studied an excerpt from Gibbon in our European history course.
Advanced Usage
- "Gibbon-like" (adj): Resembling or characteristic of a gibbon, particularly in agility or arm length.
- The gymnast's gibbon-like grace on the uneven bars was astonishing.
Variants and Related Words
- Hylobatidae: The biological family name for gibbons.
- Siamang: A specific, larger type of gibbon, noted for its throat sac.
Synonyms
- Lesser ape: A common term distinguishing gibbons and siamangs from the "great apes" (chimpanzees, gorillas, orangutans).
- Brachistor: A technical term for an animal that moves by brachiation, like a gibbon.
Related Phrases
- Gibbon's territory: Often used metaphorically to describe a defined area of expertise or influence, alluding to the animal's fiercely defended home range.
- Criticizing his theory is risky; you're entering Gibbon's territory.
Related Idioms
- To swing like a gibbon: To move with great agility and speed, especially using one's arms.
- The parkour athlete could swing like a gibbon across the scaffolding.
Noun
-
smallest and most perfectly anthropoid arboreal ape having long arms and no tail; of southern Asia and East Indies
-
English historian best known for his history of the Roman Empire (1737-1794)
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