ivory

i·vo·ry

Use ivory in a sentence

ivory

noun

pl. -·ries

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.
the color of ivory; creamy white
a tusk of an elephant, walrus, etc.
[pl.] things made of ivory
[pl.]Slang things resembling or suggesting ivory; specif.,
1. piano keys
2. teeth
3. dice
4. billiard balls

Origin of ivory

Middle English from Old French yvoire from Classical Latin eboreus (adj.) from ebur (gen. eboris), ivory from Egyptian ?bw, elephant, ivory

of, made of, or like ivory
creamy-white

ivory Idioms

tickle the ivories

Slang to play the piano: a jocular usage

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"ivory." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 17 April 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/IVORY>.

APA Style

ivory. (n.d.). Retrieved April 17th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/IVORY

ivory

noun

pl. i·vo·ries

a. A hard, smooth, yellowish-white substance composed primarily of dentin that forms the tusks of the elephant.
b. A similar substance forming the tusks or teeth of certain other mammals, such as the walrus.
A tusk, especially an elephant's tusk.
An article made of ivory.
A substance resembling ivory.
A pale or grayish yellow to yellowish white.
ivories
a. Music Piano keys.
b. Games Dice.
c. Slang The teeth.

adjective

Composed or constructed of ivory.
Of a pale or grayish yellow to yellowish white.

Origin of ivory

Middle English ivorie from Old French ivoire, ivurie from Latin eboreus of ivory from ebur ebor- ivory from Coptic ebou elephant from Egyptian 'bw

THE AMERICAN HERITAGE® DICTIONARY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE, FIFTH EDITION by the Editors of the American Heritage Dictionaries. Copyright © 2016, 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

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MLA Style

"ivory." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 17 April 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/IVORY>.

APA Style

ivory. (n.d.). Retrieved April 17th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/IVORY

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.

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Link to this page

Cite this page

MLA Style

"ivory." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 17 April 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/IVORY>.

APA Style

ivory. (n.d.). Retrieved April 17th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/IVORY

Noun

(countable and uncountable, plural ivories)

(uncountable) The hard white form of dentine which forms the tusks of elephants, walruses and other animals.
A creamy white colour, the colour of ivory.
Something made from or resembling ivory.
(collective singular or in plural) The teeth.
(collective singular or in plural) The keys of a piano.
(slang) A white person.

Adjective

(not comparable)

Made of ivory.
Resembling or having the colour of ivory.

Origin

From Middle English ivorie, from Anglo-Norman ivurie, from Latin eboreus (“in or of ivory”) adjective of ebur (“ivory”) (genitive eboris), from Coptic [script?] ebou (“elephant”) , from Egyptian (ȝbw).