ivory — A hard, creamy-white material that forms the tusks of elephants and certain other animals, prized for carving and decoration.
Part of speech: NOUN
Definition: A hard, creamy-white material that forms the tusks of elephants and certain other animals, prized for carving and decoration.
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈaɪvəri/
Example Sentences
- The elephant admired his own ivory tusks in the water and thought, 'I really should visit a dentist.'
- My grandfather's old ivory piano keys are so yellow they look like they got a bad tan.
- Many countries have banned the ivory trade to protect endangered elephants.
ivory
NOUN[/ˈaɪvəri/]
A hard, creamy-white material that forms the tusks of elephants and certain other animals, prized for carving and decoration.
The old piano's ivory keys still gleam under the parlor lamp.
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
Ivory originates from ancient Egyptian âb or ābu, meaning 'elephant,' which evolved into Latin ebur meaning 'ivory,' and subsequently into Old French ivurie before entering English. The term's journey through multiple languages reflects the historical value placed on elephant tusks as a precious material across ancient Mediterranean and European cultures.
Breakdown
Egyptian âb/ābu (elephant) → Latin ebur (ivory) → Old French ivurie → English ivory. The semantic shift from 'elephant' to 'ivory' reflects the material's association with the animal that produces it.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“The elephant admired his own ivory tusks in the water and thought, 'I really should visit a dentist.'”
“My grandfather's old ivory piano keys are so yellow they look like they got a bad tan.”
“Many countries have banned the ivory trade to protect endangered elephants.”
“The bride's dress was a soft ivory rather than bright white.”
“Scientists warn that poaching for ivory could push elephants toward extinction.”
📚Related Words
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