ivory

EYE-vuh-ree/ˈaɪv(ə)ɹi/

Pluralivories (some meanings)

9 meanings of ivory

1
noununcountable
The hard white material that forms the tusks of elephants and some other animals.
Like very hard, smooth bone, but it comes from an animal's tusk.
Hunters killed elephants for their ivory.
The small bracelet was carved from ivory.
Note
2
nouncountable or uncountable
A soft, creamy white color, like that of elephant tusks.
Like the color of fresh cream.
She painted the bedroom walls a soft ivory.
The bride chose ivory for the bridesmaids' dresses.
Similarcream, off-white, eggshell, bone, ecru
3
adjective
Having a soft, creamy white color.
Like the gentle white of cream.
She wore an ivory gown to the dance.
The quiet room had soft ivory walls.
Similarcream, off-white, creamy, eggshell, ecru
4
adjective
Made from the tusks of elephants or similar animals.
The museum displayed a delicate ivory comb.
She inherited an ivory brooch from her grandmother.
Note
5
nouncountable or uncountable
An object made from or looking like the material from tusks.
The collector kept a small ivory on the shelf.
He polished the carved ivory until it gleamed.
6
nouncollectivecountable or uncountable
The keys of a piano, especially the white ones.
She pressed one yellowed ivory and a soft note rang out.
He likes to tickle the ivories after dinner.
Similarkey
Oppositeebony
Note
7
nouncollectivecountable or uncountable
The teeth in a person's mouth, seen as white.
He flashed his ivories in a wide grin.
She brushed every ivory until it shone.
Similartooth
8
nouncolloquialcountable or uncountable
A small cube marked with numbers, thrown in games of chance.
He rolled the ivories and hoped for a six.
She shook one ivory in her fist before tossing it.
Similardie, dice
9
nounslangethnicslurcountable or uncountable
A slang term for a white-skinned person.
The other workers teased the new ivory on the crew.
She was the only ivory in the room that night.
Similarhonky, gringo, Caucasian, cracker, gweilo
Note

Practice

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Origin

It came through Middle English and Anglo-Norman from Latin ebur, meaning "ivory," which came from Egyptian words for elephant and ivory. It replaced the older English word elpendbān, meaning "elephant bone."