ivory

[ ahy-vuh-ree, ahy-vree ]

/ ˈaɪ və ri, ˈaɪ vri /

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noun, plural i·vo·ries.

the hard white substance, a variety of dentin, composing the main part of the tusks of the elephant, walrus, etc.

this substance when taken from a dead animal and used to make carvings, billiard balls, etc.

some substance resembling this.

an article made of this substance, as a carving or a billiard ball.

a tusk, as of an elephant.

dentin of any kind.

Slang. a tooth, or the teeth.

ivories, Slang.

the keys of a piano or of a similar keyboard instrument.
dice.

Also called vegetable ivory. the hard endosperm of the ivory nut, used for ornamental purposes, for buttons, etc.

a creamy or yellowish white.

a smooth paper finish produced by coating with beeswax before calendering.

adjective

consisting or made of ivory.

of the color ivory.

Nearby words

Origin of ivory

1250–1300; Middle English < Old French ivurie < Latin eboreus (adj.), equivalent to ebor- (stem of ebur) ivory + -eus adj. suffix; see -eous

Related formsi·vo·ry·like, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for ivory

Soon his coffers were overflowing with revenue from rubber, palm oil, and ivory.
‘Argo’ in the Congo: The Ghosts of the Stanleyville Hostage Crisis|Nina Strochlic|November 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
These goods were probably exchanged with Gedi inhabitants for animal skins and ivory.
Kenya Has Its Own Machu Picchu—the Lost Town of Gedi|Nina Strochlic|September 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST
“We can only save African elephants if China and Japan ban the ivory trade,” Thornton told me.
A World Without Elephants? Blame China|Michael Tomasky|August 6, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Today, ivory prices are at record highs, having tripled since that 2008 auction, up to around $1,500 a pound.
A World Without Elephants? Blame China|Michael Tomasky|August 6, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Ivory purchases are officially discouraged by the Chinese government.
China’s Blood Ivory Bazaar|Brendon Hong|June 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He had created a new property, as was testified by the vast pyramid of ivory that stood under the shadow of the great nwana-tree!
The Bush Boys|Captain Mayne Reid
Timbuctoo now scarcely forwards anything but gold to the coast of Tripoli, together with wax and ivory, but no slaves.
Narrative of a Mission to Central Africa Performed in the Years 1850-51, Volume 1|James Richardson
It was by far the most valuable prize of the day, and its ivory would fetch a considerable sum in the market.
Hair-Breadth Escapes|H.C. Adams
In the King's hand was a sword; on his saddle the ivory image of the Holy Virgin.
The Story of Seville|Walter M. Gallichan
He began with an ivory toddy-stick to convert sugar and Bourbon into sirup.
The Seven Darlings|Gouverneur Morris

British Dictionary definitions for ivory

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

Word Origin for ivory

C13: from Old French ivurie, from Latin evoreus made of ivory, from ebur ivory; related to Greek elephas ivory, elephant

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

Word Origin and History for ivory

ivory

mid-13c. (late 12c. as a surname), Anglo-French ivorie, from Old North French ivurie (12c.), from Latin eboreus "of ivory," from ebur (genitive eboris) "ivory," probably via Phoenician from an African source (cf. Egyptian ab "elephant," Coptic ebu "ivory"). Replaced Old English elpendban, literally "elephant bone." Applied in slang to articles made from it, such as dice (1830) and piano keys (1854). As a color, especially in reference to human skin, it is attested from 1580s. Ivories as slang for "teeth" dates from 1782. Related: Ivoried.

Science 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.

ivory

noun, plural i·vo·ries.

adjective

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Origin of ivory

Examples from the Web for ivory

ivory

noun plural -ries

Word Origin for ivory

Ivory

noun

ivory

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