gorilla
- 01 A2 Elementary
a very large, strong ape with black hair that lives in the forests of Africa.
a large, powerful primate of the genus Gorilla, native to the tropical forests of equatorial Africa.
Simple“We watched a documentary about how a family of gorillas lives in the mountains.”
In context“Conservation efforts in the region have led to a modest increase in the population of mountain gorillas despite ongoing habitat loss.”
- 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
a big, strong, and sometimes scary man who might be a guard or a bully.
a large, physically imposing, or brutish man, often implying a role as a thug or enforcer.
Simple“The club owner hired a couple of gorillas to stand by the door and check IDs.”
In context“The politician was always flanked by a pair of silent gorillas who discouraged any journalists from approaching too closely.”
- 03 C1 Advanced
a very large and powerful company that dominates its market.
a dominant person or organization within a specific field; a market leader with overwhelming influence.
Simple“It is hard for a small startup to compete with a 500-pound gorilla like that tech giant.”
In context“The merger created an 800-pound gorilla in the telecommunications sector, effectively stifling competition for several years.”
SynonymsAntonyms - 04 C2 Proficiency
a slang term for one thousand pounds.
a slang term representing one thousand units of currency, specifically pounds sterling.
Simple“The repairs on his car are going to cost him at least a gorilla.”
In context“He managed to sell the vintage motorbike for a couple of gorillas, which was more than he had originally expected.”
From Ancient Greek Γόριλλαι (Górillai, “Gorillai (a tribe of hairy women)”), described by Hanno the Navigator, a Carthaginian navigator and possible visitor to the area that later became Sierra Leone; the Greek word is likely from Punic, and ultimately from an African language.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.