ivory Hear it!

ivory definition

ivo·ry (īvər ē, īvrē)

noun pl. ivories -·ries

  1. the hard, white substance, a form of dentin, that makes up the tusks of elephants, walruses, etc.
    1. dentin in any form
    2. any substance like ivory in appearance, use, etc.
  2. the color of ivory; creamy white
  3. a tusk of an elephant, walrus, etc.
  4. things made of ivory
  5. Slang things resembling or suggesting ivory; specif.,
    1. piano keys
    2. teeth
    3. dice
    4. billiard balls

Etymology: ME < OFr yvoire < L eboreus (adj.) < ebur (gen. eboris), ivory < Egypt Ȝbw, elephant, ivory

adjective

  1. of, made of, or like ivory
  2. creamy-white

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Comments
Improve this definition.
Do you have more to add? Share your linguistic knowledge or observation.
/Register to save your comments.