ENGLISH
REFERENCE

baboon

n. countable
C2 Proficiency US //bəˈbun// UK //bæbˈuːn// ba·boon Informal Vulgar

n. a large, long-tailed monkey with a bare, pink face and a long, narrow nose. They live in large groups in parts of Africa and Arabia.

n. a large, long-tailed Old World monkey of the genus Papio, characterized by a bare, pink face and a long, narrow nose. They are highly social and live in complex hierarchical groups.


SIMPLE

The baboon climbed the tall tree to look for fruit.

CONTEXTUAL

During our safari in South Africa, we watched a group of baboons moving across the rocky plains.

COMPLEX

The baboon is a highly intelligent primate, known for its complex social structures and the use of various vocalizations to communicate within its troop.

Origin

From Middle English babewin, baboin, from Old French babouin, from baboue (“grimace; muzzle”), of West Germanic origin, related to dialectal German Bäppe (“lips; muzzle”), Middle High German beffen (“to bark”), Middle English baffen (“to bark”). See also baff, baffle.

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