ivory

[ ahy-vuh-ree, ahy-vree ]

noun

, plural i·vo·ries.

1. the hard white substance, a variety of dentin, composing the main part of the tusks of elephants, walruses, etc.
2. this substance when taken from a dead animal and used to make carvings, billiard balls, etc.
3. some substance resembling this.
4. an article made of this substance, as a carving or a billiard ball.
5. a tusk, as of an elephant.
6. dentin of any kind.
7. Slang. a tooth, or the teeth.
8. ivories, Slang.
   1. the keys of a piano or of a similar keyboard instrument.
   2. dice.
9. Also called vegetable ivory. the hard endosperm of the ivory nut, used for ornamental purposes, for buttons, etc.
10. a creamy or yellowish white.
11. a smooth paper finish produced by coating with beeswax before calendering.

adjective

1. consisting or made of ivory.
2. of the color ivory.

Ivory

¹

/ ˈaɪvərɪ /

noun

1. IvoryJames1928MUSFILMS AND TV: director James. born 1928, US film director. With the producer Ismael Merchant, his films include Shakespeare Wallah (1964), Heat and Dust (1983), A Room With a View (1986), and The Golden Bowl (2000)

ivory

²

/ -vrɪ; ˈaɪvərɪ /

noun

1. 1. a hard smooth creamy white variety of dentine that makes up a major part of the tusks of elephants, walruses, and similar animals
   2. ( as modifier )

      ivory ornaments

2. a tusk made of ivory
3. 1. a yellowish-white colour; cream
   2. ( as adjective )

      ivory shoes

4. a substance resembling elephant tusk
5. an ornament, etc, made of ivory
6. black ivory obsolete.
   Black slaves collectively

ivory

/ ī′və-rē /

1. The hard, smooth, yellowish-white substance forming the teeth and tusks of certain animals, such as the tusks of elephants and walruses and the teeth of certain whales. Ivory is composed of dentin.

Derived Forms

• ˈivory-ˌlike, adjective

Other Words From

• ivo·ry·like adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of ivory¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English, from Old French ivurie, from Latin eboreus, noun use of neuter adjective, equivalent to ebor- (stem of ebur ) “ivory” + -eus adjective suffix; compare Egyptian ab, abu, Coptic eb, ebu “ivory, elephant,” Sanskrit íbhaḥ “elephant”; -eous

Word History and Origins

Origin of ivory¹

C13: from Old French ivurie, from Latin evoreus made of ivory, from ebur ivory; related to Greek elephas ivory, elephant

Example Sentences

Everyone in her group was laden with two or three cone-shaped bundles — a couple dozen each of ranunculus, sweet peas, lisianthus, Queen Anne’s lace, spray roses and large roses in ivory and white.

From Los Angeles Times

Steeped in Gothic and Renaissance-era references, Bernad’s romantic designs feature almost exclusively antique lace and crochet in shades of cream and ivory, and sometimes black or the softest pink.

From Los Angeles Times

The professor in the ivory tower reminds us that words retain meaning.

From Los Angeles Times

“I do not paint inside an ivory tower. I speak of the society around me in my work.”

From BBC

From the hazy ivory towers and corporate suites inhabited by so many college presidents and boards of trustees, Palestinian people are scarcely more than abstractions compared to far more real priorities.

From Salon