ape vs imitate

ape is a noun but imitate is not a noun.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
ape	Yes	No	Yes	No
imitate	No	No	Yes	No

As verbs, imitate is a hypernym of ape; that is, imitate is a word with a broader meaning than ape:

ape (noun)	imitate (noun)
any of various primates with short tails or no tail at all
person who resembles a nonhuman primate
someone who copies the words or behavior of another

ape (verb)	imitate (verb)
represent in or produce a caricature of	reproduce someone's behavior or looks
imitate uncritically and in every aspect	make a reproduction or copy of
	appear like, as in behavior or appearance