the hard white substance, a variety of dentin, composing the main part of the tusks of elephants, walruses, etc.
this substance when taken from a dead animal and used to make carvings, billiard balls, etc.
some substance resembling this.
an article made of this substance, as a carving or a billiard ball.
a tusk, as of an elephant.
dentin of any kind.
Slang. a tooth, or the teeth.
ivories,Slang.
the keys of a piano or of a similar keyboard instrument.
dice.
Also called vegetable ivory. the hard endosperm of the ivory nut, used for ornamental purposes, for buttons, etc.
a creamy or yellowish white.
a smooth paper finish produced by coating with beeswax before calendering.
adjective
consisting or made of ivory.
of the color ivory.
Origin of ivory
First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English, from Old French ivurie, from Latin eboreus, noun use of neuter adjective, equivalent to ebor- (stem of ebur ) “ivory” + -eus adjective suffix; compare Egyptian ab, abu, Coptic eb, ebu “ivory, elephant,” Sanskrit íbhaḥ “elephant”; see -eous
He had created a new property, as was testified by the vast pyramid of ivory that stood under the shadow of the great nwana-tree!
The Bush Boys|Captain Mayne Reid
Timbuctoo now scarcely forwards anything but gold to the coast of Tripoli, together with wax and ivory, but no slaves.
Narrative of a Mission to Central Africa Performed in the Years 1850-51, Volume 1|James Richardson
It was by far the most valuable prize of the day, and its ivory would fetch a considerable sum in the market.
Hair-Breadth Escapes|H.C. Adams
In the King's hand was a sword; on his saddle the ivory image of the Holy Virgin.
The Story of Seville|Walter M. Gallichan
He began with an ivory toddy-stick to convert sugar and Bourbon into sirup.
The Seven Darlings|Gouverneur Morris
British Dictionary definitions for ivory (1 of 2)
ivory
/ (ˈaɪvərɪ, -vrɪ) /
nounplural-ries
a hard smooth creamy white variety of dentine that makes up a major part of the tusks of elephants, walruses, and similar animals
(as modifier)ivory ornaments
a tusk made of ivory
a yellowish-white colour; cream
(as adjective)ivory shoes
a substance resembling elephant tusk
an ornament, etc, made of ivory
black ivoryobsoleteBlack slaves collectively
See also ivories
Derived forms of ivory
ivory-like, adjective
Word Origin for ivory
C13: from Old French ivurie, from Latin evoreus made of ivory, from ebur ivory; related to Greek elephas ivory, elephant
British Dictionary definitions for ivory (2 of 2)
Ivory
/ (ˈaɪvərɪ) /
noun
James. born 1928, US film director. With the producer Ismael Merchant, his films include Shakespeare Wallah (1964), Heat and Dust (1983), A Room With a View (1986), and The Golden Bowl (2000)
Learn The Elephant Words You’ll Never Forget (And Help WWF Save A Pachyderm Or Two)An elephant never forgets, and we shouldn't forget about them, either. Learn about the threats to survival elephants and other animals face with this list of important words—and what World Wildlife Fund (WWF) is doing to help.
The hard, smooth, yellowish-white substance forming the teeth and tusks of certain animals, such as the tusks of elephants and walruses and the teeth of certain whales. Ivory is composed of dentin.