tusk

American  

[tuhsk] / tʌsk /

noun

1. (in certain animals) a tooth developed to great length, usually one of a pair, as in the elephant, walrus, and wild boar, but singly in the narwhal.

2. a long, pointed, or protruding tooth.

3. a projection resembling the tusk of an animal.

4. Also called gain.  Carpentry. a diagonally cut shoulder at the end of a timber for strengthening a tenon.

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verb (used with object)

1. to dig up or tear off with the tusks.

2. to gore with a tusk.

verb (used without object)

1. to dig up or thrust at the ground with the tusks.

tusk British  

/ tʌsk /

noun

1. a pointed elongated usually paired tooth in the elephant, walrus, and certain other mammals that is often used for fighting

2. the canine tooth of certain animals, esp horses

3. a sharp pointed projection

4. Also called: tusk tenon.  building trades a tenon shaped with an additional oblique shoulder to make a stronger joint

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verb

1. to stab, tear, or gore with the tusks

tusk Scientific  

/ tŭsk /

1. A long, pointed tooth, usually one of a pair, projecting from the mouth of certain animals, such as elephants, walruses, and wild pigs. Tusks are used for procuring food and as weapons.

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Other Word Forms

• tusked
  adjective
• tuskless
  adjective
• tusklike
  adjective
• untusked
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of tusk

before 900; Middle English, metathetic variant of tux, Old English, variant of tusc tush ²; cognate with Old Frisian tusk; akin to tooth

Explanation

A tusk is the long, pointed tooth seen on some animals, such as elephants, walruses, or hogs. Animals that have tusks can use them for protection against predators. Tusk rhymes with dusk. A tusk is a tooth that grows outward from an animal's mouth. How is a tusk different from a fang? Fangs are used to seize prey and bite and tear. Tusks, on the other hand, are used for defense and even as tools for digging or, in the cause of the walrus, for holding steady while on ice.

Example Sentences

During one visit, riders might notice Siegel’s photograph of a mammoth tusk — a fossil uncovered by crews during construction of the station.

From Los Angeles Times • May 8, 2026

Another explorer, Martin Nweeia, a dental surgeon, discovered that a narwhal’s tusk, whose purpose was a mystery to scientists, is actually a sensory rod that helps it measure salinity, temperature and water pressure.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 10, 2025

They might paint an elephant tusk black, or try to make pangolin scales look like candy or chocolate.

From NewsForKids.net • Nov. 28, 2024

Britta Jaschinski observed as a crime scene investigator from London’s Metropolitan Police dusted a confiscated tusk at Heathrow Airport for fingerprints, using newly developed magnetic powder.

From BBC • Oct. 8, 2024

An old wound a boar’s white tusk inflicted, on Parnassos years ago.

From "The Odyssey" by Homer

Related Words

• ivory