ivory

i-vo-ry · noun

imported

Definitions

noun

  1. 1.

    The hard, white material from elephant tusks and other animals, historically used for carving and decoration.

  2. 2.

    A creamy white color resembling the color of ivory.

  3. 3.

    (Informal, usually plural) Piano keys or teeth.

Forms

plural: ivories

Phrases & expressions

  • •
    ivory tower — a state of privileged seclusion from the real world
  • •
    tickle the ivories — play the piano
  • •
    ivory trade — the commercial dealing in ivory, now largely illegal

Related words

See also: bone, elephant, tusk
Synonyms: bone-white, tusk

Etymology

From Old French ivoire, from Latin eboreus ("made of ivory"), from ebur ("ivory"), possibly of Egyptian origin.