Rouse an ape? It is to be avoided! (7)

I believe the answer is:

animate

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'rouse' is the definition.
(thesaurus)

I cannot understand how the remainder of the clue works.

(Other definitions for animate that I've seen before include "Spirited" , "get lively" , "Enliven - draw for cartoon" , "Enliven, alive" , "Give life or movement to, as with a cartoon" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.

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