ivory
YV-ree
Ivory (noun) means the hard, creamy-white material that forms the tusks of elephants and some other animals. Example: “Old piano keys were once made of ivory taken from elephant tusks.”
noun
1
The hard, creamy-white material that forms the tusks of elephants and some other animals.
"Old piano keys were once made of ivory taken from elephant tusks."
"The antique chess set was carved from ivory."
"Poachers kill elephants illegally to sell their ivory."
2
A pale, creamy-white color resembling that material.
"The lace curtains had faded from white to a gentle ivory."
"I'd like to paint the ceiling ivory rather than bright white."
"The bride chose an ivory wedding dress instead of pure white."
3
Informal: the keys of a piano.
"She ran her fingers lightly over the ivories and began to play."
"After the concert, the old man sat alone, gently playing the ivories."
"He sat down and tickled the ivories for the crowd."
adj
1
Made of, or colored like, ivory.
"He gave her an ivory necklace with a tiny carved flower."
"The cat had thick ivory fur with pale brown ears."
"She painted the nursery walls a soft ivory shade."
How to use ivory
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe hard white tusk material from elephants (and similar animals), or the pale cream color named after it.
Common mistake
The international trade in elephant ivory is heavily restricted or banned in most countries — don't assume "antique ivory" is automatically legal to sell.
Common pairings
ivory tusks
ivory carving
ivory tower
tickle the ivories
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Word forms
- Plural
- ivories
Fill the gap
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Old piano keys were once made of _____ taken from elephant tusks.
Etymology
From Anglo-Norman "ivurie", from Latin "eboreus" ("of ivory"), tracing back to an ancient Egyptian word for elephant and ivory — a very long journey for one small word.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for ivory
See all rhymes for ivory →Frequently asked questions
What does “ivory” mean?
The word “ivory” means the hard, creamy-white material that forms the tusks of elephants and some other animals. In plain terms, the hard white tusk material from elephants (and similar animals), or the pale cream color named after it.
How do you pronounce “ivory”?
“Ivory” is pronounced YV-ree (/ˈaɪv(ə)ɹi/ in IPA).
How do you use “ivory” in a sentence?
Here is “ivory” used in a sentence: “The antique chess set was carved from ivory.”
What part of speech is “ivory”?
Depending on how it is used, “ivory” can be a noun and an adjective.
Where does the word “ivory” come from?
The word “ivory” comes from Latin. From Anglo-Norman "ivurie", from Latin "eboreus" ("of ivory"), tracing back to an ancient Egyptian word for elephant and ivory — a very long journey for one small word.
Is “ivory” a common word?
“Ivory” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “ivory” have?
“Ivory” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the hard, creamy-white material that forms the tusks of elephants and some other animals.
What is the difference between ivory and bone?
Ivory is the hard, creamy-white material that specifically forms the tusks of elephants and some other animals, while bone comes from the skeletal structure of animals more broadly. Ivory has a distinct density and texture that has historically made it prized for carving, unlike ordinary bone.
Why are piano keys called ivories?
Piano keys are informally called ivories because older pianos were traditionally topped with thin sheets of real ivory, the creamy-white material from elephant tusks. The nickname has stuck even though modern piano keys are typically made from plastic.
Is ivory a color name as well as a material?
Yes, ivory also describes a pale, creamy-white color resembling the material itself. It's commonly used to describe paint, fabric, and other pale off-white shades.
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