elephant
el-e-phant · noun
Definitions
noun
- 1.
A very large plant-eating mammal with a prehensile trunk, long curved ivory tusks, and large ears, native to Africa and southern Asia. It is the largest living land animal.
- 2.
(figurative) Something very large or difficult to deal with.
Forms
plural: elephants
Phrases & expressions
- •elephant in the room — an obvious problem that people avoid discussing
- •white elephant — a burdensome possession that is more trouble than it's worth
- •memory of an elephant — having an excellent memory
- •see pink elephants — to hallucinate, especially from intoxication
Related words
Etymology
From Old French olifant, from Latin elephantus, from Greek elephas (elephantos), possibly from Egyptian ab ("elephant") + Berber ebu ("elephant"), or from a Semitic source. The word originally referred to both the animal and ivory.