noun
Uncommon
ebony
EHB-uhn-ee
Ebony (noun) means a hard, dense, nearly black wood from certain tropical trees, prized for furniture and instruments. Example: “The chess set was carved from ebony and pale maple.”
noun
1
A hard, dense, nearly black wood from certain tropical trees, prized for furniture and instruments.
"The chess set was carved from ebony and pale maple."
2
A deep black colour.
"Her hair was a rich ebony that shone under the lights."
adj
1
Deep black, or made from ebony wood.
"He wore an ebony ring carved by a local craftsman."
"The piano's ebony keys had been polished to a high shine."
How to use ebony
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA very dark, dense wood — or simply a deep black colour, as in "ebony hair."
Common pairings
ebony wood
ebony keys
ebony and ivory
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Word forms
- Plural
- ebonies
- Comparative
- more ebony
- Superlative
- most ebony
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The chess set was carved from _____ and pale maple.
Etymology
From Latin hebenus and ultimately Egyptian hbnj, via Greek ébenos — the same root word travelled through several languages before settling as "ebony" in English.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for ebony
See all rhymes for ebony →Frequently asked questions
What does “ebony” mean?
The word “ebony” means a hard, dense, nearly black wood from certain tropical trees, prized for furniture and instruments. In plain terms, a very dark, dense wood — or simply a deep black colour, as in "ebony hair.".
How do you pronounce “ebony”?
“Ebony” is pronounced EHB-uhn-ee (/ˈɛb.ən.i/ in IPA).
How do you use “ebony” in a sentence?
Here is “ebony” used in a sentence: “The chess set was carved from ebony and pale maple.”
What part of speech is “ebony”?
Depending on how it is used, “ebony” can be a noun and an adjective.
Where does the word “ebony” come from?
The word “ebony” comes from Latin. From Latin hebenus and ultimately Egyptian hbnj, via Greek ébenos — the same root word travelled through several languages before settling as "ebony" in English.
Is “ebony” a common word?
“Ebony” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “ebony” have?
“Ebony” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a hard, dense, nearly black wood from certain tropical trees, prized for furniture and instruments.
