Wiktionary

ivory

See also: Ivory

English

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An ivory decoration (1)-(3)

Etymology

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From Middle English yvory, ivorie, from Anglo-Norman ivurie, from Latin eboreus (“in or of ivory”) adjective of ebur (“ivory”) (genitive eboris), from Demotic yb (“ivory, Elephantine”) (compare Coptic ⲓⲏⲃ (iēb, “Elephantine”)), from Egyptian ꜣbw (“elephant, ivory, Elephantine”). Displaced native Old English elpendbān (literally “elephant bone”).

Pronunciation

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  • IPA(key): /ˈaɪv(ə)ɹi/
  • Audio (US):(file)
  • Hyphenation: i‧vo‧ry, ivo‧ry

Noun

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ivory (countable and uncountable, plural ivories)

  1. (uncountable) The hard white form of dentin which forms the tusks of elephants, walruses and other animals.
  2. A creamy white color, the color of ivory.
    ivory:  
  3. Something made from or resembling ivory.
  4. (collective, singular or in plural) The teeth.
  5. (collective, singular or in plural) The keys of a piano.
    Coordinate term: ebony
    to tickle the ivories
  6. (slang, ethnic slur) A white person.
    Synonyms: see Thesaurus:white person
  7. (informal) A die (object bearing numbers, thrown in games of chance).
    • c. 1846, Alexandre Dumas (translated by William Barrow), The Three Musketeers
      The triumphant Englishman did not give himself the trouble even to shake the dice; and, so sure was he of winning, that he threw the ivory on the table without looking.

Derived terms

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Translations

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The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.

See also

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Adjective

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ivory (not comparable)

  1. Made of ivory.
    • 1913, Joseph C[rosby] Lincoln, chapter X, in Mr. Pratt’s Patients, New York, N.Y., London: D[aniel] Appleton and Company, →OCLC:
      Men that I knew around Wapatomac didn't wear high, shiny plug hats, nor yeller spring overcoats, nor carry canes with ivory heads as big as a catboat's anchor, as you might say.
  2. Resembling or having the colour of ivory.
    • 1938, Interior Decoration To-day, page 132:
      The walls and ceiling of this drawing-room in Montague Square are painted ivory.

Derived terms

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Translations

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The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.

See also

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Middle English

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Noun

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ivory

  1. Alternative form of yvory
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