ivory
[ ahy-vuh-ree, ahy-vree ]
/ ˈaɪ və ri, ˈaɪ vri /
noun, plural i·vo·ries.
adjective
consisting or made of ivory.
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
OTHER WORDS FROM ivory
i·vo·ry·like, adjectiveWords nearby ivory
ivied,
iviza,
ivor,
ivorian,
ivories,
ivory,
ivory black,
ivory coast,
ivory exostosis,
ivory gull,
ivory nut
Example sentences from the Web for ivory
British Dictionary definitions for ivory (1 of 2)
ivory
/ (ˈaɪvərɪ, -vrɪ) /
noun plural -ries
- a hard smooth creamy white variety of dentine that makes up a major part of the tusks of elephants, walruses, and similar animals
- (as modifier)ivory ornaments
a tusk made of ivory
- a yellowish-white colour; cream
- (as adjective)ivory shoes
a substance resembling elephant tusk
an ornament, etc, made of ivory
black ivory obsolete
Black slaves collectively
See also
ivories
Derived forms of ivory
ivory-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
British Dictionary definitions for ivory (2 of 2)
Ivory
/ (ˈaɪvərɪ) /
noun
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)
Scientific definitions for ivory
ivory
[ ī′və-rē ]
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.