elephant
Elephant (noun) means a very large mammal with a long trunk, big ears, and tusks, native to Africa and Asia. Example: “The elephant used its trunk to spray water over its back.”
How to use elephant
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe largest living land animal, known for its trunk and tusks — or, figuratively, an obvious problem everyone is avoiding.
"The elephant in the room" means an obvious issue that everyone notices but avoids talking about.
Trace the full origin ↓Word forms
elephants plural
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The _____ used its trunk to spray water over its back.
Etymology
From Old French elefant, ultimately from Ancient Greek elephas ("elephant, ivory"), possibly borrowed from an ancient North African language.
Synonyms
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Frequently asked questions
What does “elephant” mean?
The word “elephant” means a very large mammal with a long trunk, big ears, and tusks, native to Africa and Asia. In plain terms, the largest living land animal, known for its trunk and tusks — or, figuratively, an obvious problem everyone is avoiding.
How do you pronounce “elephant”?
“Elephant” is pronounced EH-lih-fuhnt (/ˈɛləfənt/ in IPA).
How do you use “elephant” in a sentence?
Here is “elephant” used in a sentence: “The elephant used its trunk to spray water over its back.”
What is another word for “elephant”?
Words with a similar meaning to “elephant” include oliphaunt.
What part of speech is “elephant”?
“Elephant” is a noun.
Where does the word “elephant” come from?
The word “elephant” comes from Ancient Greek. From Old French elefant, ultimately from Ancient Greek elephas ("elephant, ivory"), possibly borrowed from an ancient North African language.
Is “elephant” a common word?
“Elephant” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
How many meanings does “elephant” have?
“Elephant” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a very large mammal with a long trunk, big ears, and tusks, native to Africa and Asia.
What is the difference between African and Asian elephants?
African elephants are generally larger and have much bigger ears, while Asian elephants are smaller with smaller, rounded ears. Tusks also differ: both male and female African elephants typically grow tusks, whereas among Asian elephants usually only some males have long tusks.
What is a group of elephants called?
A group of elephants is called a herd. A baby elephant is a calf, an adult female is a cow, and an adult male is a bull.
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