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ivory
[ ahy-vuh-ree, ahy-vree ]
/ ˈaɪ və ri, ˈaɪ vri /
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noun, plural i·vo·ries.
adjective
consisting or made of ivory.
of the color ivory.
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Origin of ivory
First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English, from Old French ivurie, from Latin eboreus, noun use of neuter adjective, equivalent to ebor- (stem of ebur ) “ivory” + -eus adjective suffix; compare Egyptian ab, abu, Coptic eb, ebu “ivory, elephant,” Sanskrit íbhaḥ “elephant”; see -eous
OTHER WORDS FROM ivory
i·vo·ry·like, adjectiveWords nearby ivory
ivied, Iviza, Ivor, Ivorian, ivories, ivory, ivory-billed woodpecker, ivory black, Ivory Coast, ivory gull, ivory nut
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use ivory in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for ivory (1 of 2)
ivory
/ (ˈaɪvərɪ, -vrɪ) /
noun plural -ries
- a hard smooth creamy white variety of dentine that makes up a major part of the tusks of elephants, walruses, and similar animals
- (as modifier)ivory ornaments
a tusk made of ivory
- a yellowish-white colour; cream
- (as adjective)ivory shoes
a substance resembling elephant tusk
an ornament, etc, made of ivory
black ivory obsolete Black slaves collectively
See also ivories
Derived forms of ivory
ivory-like, adjectiveWord Origin for ivory
C13: from Old French ivurie, from Latin evoreus made of ivory, from ebur ivory; related to Greek elephas ivory, elephant
British Dictionary definitions for ivory (2 of 2)
Ivory
/ (ˈaɪvərɪ) /
noun
James. born 1928, US film director. With the producer Ismael Merchant, his films include Shakespeare Wallah (1964), Heat and Dust (1983), A Room With a View (1986), and The Golden Bowl (2000)
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
Scientific definitions for ivory
ivory
[ ī′və-rē ]
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.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
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