ebony

[ eb-uh-nee ]

/ ˈɛb ə ni /

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noun, plural eb·on·ies.

a hard, heavy, durable wood, most highly prized when black, from various tropical trees of the genus Diospyros, as D. ebenum of southern India and Sri Lanka, used for cabinetwork, ornamental objects, etc.

any tree yielding such wood.

any of various similar woods or trees.

a deep, lustrous black.

adjective

Also ebon. made of ebony.

of a deep, lustrous black.

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showing self-respect

treating others with kindness

acting selfishly

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Origin of ebony

1590–1600; earlier hebeny;see ebon; -y perhaps after ivory

Words nearby ebony

Ebonics, ebonist, ebonite, ebonize, Ebonji, ebony, ebony spleenwort, e-book, Ebor., Eboracum, éboulement

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use ebony in a sentence

I returned to the front desk with my selection, and a few minutes later, a handler appeared with Luna, a 6-month-old with an ebony coat, almond eyes and a toddler’s irrepressible energy.
In Tennessee, the Old Friends Senior Dog Sanctuary welcomes two-legged visitors|Andrea Sachs|October 29, 2021|Washington Post
Sinking your spoon into the plastic cup delivers ebony and ivory in perfect harmony.
Taqueria Xochi serves mouthwatering Mexican food from a tiny U Street storefront|Tom Sietsema|December 18, 2020|Washington Post
Soon thereafter she gave birth to a little daughter who was as white as snow, as red as blood, and her hair as black as ebony.
In New Brothers Grimm 'Snow White', The Prince Doesn't Save Her|The Brothers Grimm|November 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
“I remember saying, ‘Oh my God, Mom, you have to move,’” Ebony remembers.
Killed by Donald Sterling’s Racism|Michael Daly|May 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Afterward, Ebony went to the apartment where her mother had made such a valiant stand.
Killed by Donald Sterling’s Racism|Michael Daly|May 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Ebony had been 12 when her mother was suddenly deprived of her livelihood.
Killed by Donald Sterling’s Racism|Michael Daly|May 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST
That did not preclude Ebony Jones from speaking about her mother.
Killed by Donald Sterling’s Racism|Michael Daly|May 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Stradiuarius made a few instruments inlaid with ebony and ivory round the edges.
Violins and Violin Makers|Joseph Pearce
Pallid, Sir Lucien Pyne lay by the ebony chair glaring horribly upward.
Dope|Sax Rohmer
It had spread, an ebony patch, equally about the bole of the tree, so that the sun must have been immediately overhead.
Dope|Sax Rohmer
Before going down he locked them up in a small ebony cabinet which stood against the wall.
Elster's Folly|Mrs. Henry Wood
On coming out his skin would be shining like ebony, and he would squeal with pleasure as I rubbed water down his back.
Kari the Elephant|Dhan Gopal Mukerji

British Dictionary definitions for ebony

ebony

/ (ˈɛbənɪ) /

noun plural -onies

any of various tropical and subtropical trees of the genus Diospyros, esp D. ebenum of S India, that have hard dark wood: family EbenaceaeSee also persimmon

the wood of such a tree, much used for cabinetwork

a black colour, sometimes with a dark olive tinge
(as adjective)an ebony skin

Word Origin for ebony

C16 hebeny, from Late Latin ebeninus from Greek ebeninos, from ebenos ebony, of Egyptian origin

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

ebony

Origin of ebony

Words nearby ebony

Words related to ebony

How to use ebony in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for ebony

Word Origin for ebony