ebony
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.”
How to use ebony
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA very dark, dense wood — or simply a deep black colour, as in "ebony hair."
Word forms
more ebony comparative, ebonies plural, most ebony superlative
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
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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.