ivory

ivory [ahy-vuh-ree, ahy-vree] ExamplesWord Origin See more synonyms for ivory on Thesaurus.com noun, plural i·vo·ries.

1. the hard white substance, a variety of dentin, composing the main part of the tusks of the elephant, walrus, 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

12. consisting or made of ivory.
13. of the color ivory.

Origin of ivory 1250–1300; Middle English Old French ivurie Latin eboreus (adj.), equivalent to ebor- (stem of ebur) ivory + -eus adj. suffix; see -eous Related formsi·vo·ry·like, adjective Related Words for ivories piece, figure, effigy, image, bust, likeness, statuary, sculpture, marble, bronze, icon, statuette, manual, piano, console, ivory, simulacrum, representation, cast, torso Examples from the Web for ivories Historical Examples of ivories

You are perhaps acquainted with the ivories which have been recently purchased there?

On the Old Road, Vol. 2 (of 2)

John Ruskin

Generally, however, the African elephants have the largest “ivories.”

Quadrupeds, What They Are and Where Found

Mayne Reid

The ivories of the Htel Cluny are among its greatest treasures.

Old and New Paris, v. 2

Henry Sutherland Edwards

Get us the pictures, Philip—the latest cuts—and bring—ay, you may bring the ivories.

Confession

W. Gilmore Simms

He heard the raving chatter of ivories, snapping to rend him.

Darkness and Dawn

George Allan England

British Dictionary definitions for ivories ivories pl n slang

1. the keys of a piano
2. another word for teeth
3. another word for dice

ivory noun plural -ries

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

See also ivories Derived Formsivory-like, adjectiveWord Origin for ivory C13: from Old French ivurie, from Latin evoreus made of ivory, from ebur ivory; related to Greek elephas ivory, elephant Ivory noun

1. 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)

Word Origin and History for ivories ivory n.

mid-13c. (late 12c. as a surname), Anglo-French ivorie, from Old North French ivurie (12c.), from Latin eboreus “of ivory,” from ebur (genitive eboris) “ivory,” probably via Phoenician from an African source (cf. Egyptian ab “elephant,” Coptic ebu “ivory”). Replaced Old English elpendban, literally “elephant bone.” Applied in slang to articles made from it, such as dice (1830) and piano keys (1854). As a color, especially in reference to human skin, it is attested from 1580s. Ivories as slang for “teeth” dates from 1782. Related: Ivoried.

ivories in Science 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.