elephant

[ el-uh-fuhnt ]

noun

, plural el·e·phants, (especially collectively) el·e·phant

1. a very large herbivorous mammal of the family Elephantidae, the only extant family of proboscideans and comprising the genera Loxodonta ( African elephants ) and Elephas ( Asian elephants ): Elephants of all species are characterized by a long, prehensile trunk formed of the nose and upper lip, pillarlike legs, and prominent tusks, which are possessed by both sexes of Loxodonta and just the males of Elephas. white elephant ( def 3 ).
2. a representation of this animal, used in the United States since 1874 as the emblem of the Republican Party.
3. Chiefly British. a size of drawing or writing paper, 23 × 28 inches (58 × 71 centimeters).

elephant

/ ˈɛlɪfənt /

noun

1. either of the two proboscidean mammals of the family Elephantidae . The African elephant ( Loxodonta africana ) is the larger species, with large flapping ears and a less humped back than the Indian elephant ( Elephas maximus ), of S and SE Asia
2. a size of writing paper, 23 by 28 inches
3. elephant in the room
   elephant in the room an obvious truth deliberately ignored by all parties in a situation

elephant

1. A symbol (see also symbol ) of the Republican party , introduced in a series of political cartoons by Thomas Nast during the congressional elections of 1874. ( Compare donkey .)

Derived Forms

• ˈelephanˌtoid, adjective

Other Words From

• el·e·phan·toid adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of elephant¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English (from Anglo-French ), from Latin elephantus, from Greek elephant- (stem of eléphās ) “elephant”; replacing Middle English olifaunt, from Anglo-French, from unattested Vulgar Latin olifantus, for Latin elephantus

Word History and Origins

Origin of elephant¹

C13: from Latin elephantus, from Greek elephas elephant, ivory, of uncertain origin

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. elephant in the room. elephant in the room ( def ).

More idioms and phrases containing elephant

see see the elephant ; white elephant .

Example Sentences

Yet cetaceans and elephants can fast for much longer, “and this somehow tells us that they must have found different ways to fuel their brain during periods of starvation,” Hiller said.

From Quanta Magazine

The tusks of the dead elephants are still in place and, as yet, no other species have died under similar circumstances.

From Quartz

The new study reopens the long-running debate over whether elephants truly get tipsy gorging on marula fruit.

From Science News For Students

Descriptions of elephants behaving oddly after binging on overripe fruit go back at least to 1875, Janiak says.

From Science News For Students

Previous administrations, Democrat or Republican, had not really confronted China as the elephant in the room.

From Freakonomics

Marcel the elephant takes readers on a journey through his life, recounting his memories full of travel and adventure.

From The Daily Beast

This video, shot in Zambia, shows a young elephant being attacked by a pride of 14 lions.

From The Daily Beast

By 1998, their star elephant, Kenny, became ill and was ordered not to perform by a circus veterinarian.

From The Daily Beast

The gentle, erudite soul within a body the public considered an oddity is the contrast at the heart of “The Elephant Man.”

From The Daily Beast

Want to fight ‘Taxers’ and ‘Mudslingers’ as a patriotic elephant in the new ‘Giopi: 2014 Mission Majority’?

From The Daily Beast

The female elephant killed by our hunters at this time was a comparatively small one.

From Project Gutenberg

The elephant ran straight on and went right through the whole party, but came near no one.

From Project Gutenberg

The elephant did not follow, but the hunters, having discovered her retreat, were not slow to follow and attack her.

From Project Gutenberg

But he soon got over his fear, and was so busy feeding the elephant, that his papa had to coax him away.

From Project Gutenberg

Suddenly the Elephant trumpeted aloud as though men had goaded him.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• boar