noun
tusk
TUHSK
noun
1
A long, pointed tooth that projects outside the mouth of animals such as elephants, walruses, and wild boars.
"The elephant's tusks were carved with delicate patterns."
"A walrus uses its tusks to haul itself onto ice."
How to Use Tusk
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishOne of the long pointed teeth some animals, like elephants and walruses, have outside their mouths.
Common pairings
elephant tusk
ivory tusk
pair of tusks
Word Forms
tusked past tense, tusks plural, tusks plural, tusks singular
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The elephant's _____ were carved with delicate patterns.
Etymology
From Old English tux/tusc, going back to a Proto-Germanic word meaning "canine tooth", related to "tooth" itself.