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View synonyms for elephant

elephant

[ el-uh-fuhnt ]

noun

, plural el·e·phants, (especially collectively) el·e·phant
  1. a very large herbivorous mammal of the family Elephantidae, the only extant family of proboscideans and comprising the genera Loxodonta ( African elephants ) and Elephas ( Asian elephants ): Elephants of all species are characterized by a long, prehensile trunk formed of the nose and upper lip, pillarlike legs, and prominent tusks, which are possessed by both sexes of Loxodonta and just the males of Elephas. white elephant ( def 3 ).
  2. a representation of this animal, used in the United States since 1874 as the emblem of the Republican Party.
  3. Chiefly British. a size of drawing or writing paper, 23 × 28 inches (58 × 71 centimeters).


elephant

/ ˈɛlɪfənt /

noun

  1. either of the two proboscidean mammals of the family Elephantidae . The African elephant ( Loxodonta africana ) is the larger species, with large flapping ears and a less humped back than the Indian elephant ( Elephas maximus ), of S and SE Asia
  2. a size of writing paper, 23 by 28 inches
  3. elephant in the room
    an obvious truth deliberately ignored by all parties in a situation
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012


elephant

  1. A symbol (see also symbol ) of the Republican party , introduced in a series of political cartoons by Thomas Nast during the congressional elections of 1874. ( Compare donkey .)


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Derived Forms

  • ˈelephanˌtoid, adjective
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Other Words From

  • el·e·phan·toid adjective
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Word History and Origins

Origin of elephant1

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English (from Anglo-French ), from Latin elephantus, from Greek elephant- (stem of eléphās ) “elephant”; replacing Middle English olifaunt, from Anglo-French, from unattested Vulgar Latin olifantus, for Latin elephantus
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Word History and Origins

Origin of elephant1

C13: from Latin elephantus, from Greek elephas elephant, ivory, of uncertain origin
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Idioms and Phrases

Idioms
  1. elephant in the room. elephant in the room ( def ).

More idioms and phrases containing elephant

see see the elephant ; white elephant .
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Example Sentences

Marcel the elephant takes readers on a journey through his life, recounting his memories full of travel and adventure.

This video, shot in Zambia, shows a young elephant being attacked by a pride of 14 lions.

By 1998, their star elephant, Kenny, became ill and was ordered not to perform by a circus veterinarian.

The gentle, erudite soul within a body the public considered an oddity is the contrast at the heart of “The Elephant Man.”

Want to fight ‘Taxers’ and ‘Mudslingers’ as a patriotic elephant in the new ‘Giopi: 2014 Mission Majority’?

The female elephant killed by our hunters at this time was a comparatively small one.

The elephant ran straight on and went right through the whole party, but came near no one.

The elephant did not follow, but the hunters, having discovered her retreat, were not slow to follow and attack her.

But he soon got over his fear, and was so busy feeding the elephant, that his papa had to coax him away.

Suddenly the Elephant trumpeted aloud as though men had goaded him.

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

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