■ noun ( plural ~s )
1》 a small to medium-sized primate typically having a long tail and living in trees in tropical countries. [Families Cebidae and Callitrichidae (New World), and Cercopithecidae (Old World).]
2》 a mischievous person, especially a child.
3》 Brit. informal a sum of £500.
4》 (also ~ engine ) a piledriving machine consisting of a heavy hammer or ram working vertically in a groove.
■ verb ( ~s , ~ing , ~ed )
1》 ( ~ about/around ) behave in a silly or playful way.
↘( ~ with ) tamper with.
2》 archaic ape; mimic.
Phrases
make a ~ of (or out of ) make (someone) appear ridiculous.
a ~ on one's back informal a burdensome problem.
not give a ~'s Brit. informal not care at all.
Derivatives
~ish adjective
Origin
C16: of unknown origin, perh. from Low Ger.