elephant

[el-uh-fuhnt]

noun

plural

elephants ,

plural

elephant .

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.

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. 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.)

Other Word Forms

• elephantoid 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.

see see the elephant; white elephant.

Example Sentences

Their prey included larger species such as California sea lions, northern elephant seals, gray whale calves and Pacific white-sided dolphins, and they typically hunted in groups averaging nine individuals.

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One elephant was spotted struggling to find a new path after using the location of the Ritz-Carlton as a crossing for more than a decade, Dapash said.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

“Smelling elephants? That is not much to go on,” Penelope thought.

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Cryptocurrency stockpiler Strategy might have an obstacle in its path to S&P 500 inclusion — in the form of an “elephant” currently residing in the S&P Small-Cap 600 index.

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There, Scipio’s nimble movements—he divided his forces, closed in on the Carthaginian wings and panicked their elephants—and strict discipline yielded a decisive victory.

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Related Words

• boar