/ˈaɪv(ə)ɹi/
OriginFrom Middle English yvory, ivorie, from Anglo-Norman ivurie, from Latin eboreus (“in or of ivory”) adjective of ebur (“ivory”) (genitive eboris), from Demotic Egyptian yb (“ivory, Elephantine”) (compare Coptic ⲓⲏⲃ (iēb, “Elephantine”)), from Egyptian ꜣbw (“elephant, ivory, Elephantine”), from Proto-Afroasiatic *leb-. Displaced native Old English elpendbān (literally “elephant bone”).
- uncountableThe hard white form of dentin which forms the tusks of elephants, walruses and other animals.
““Leave the ivory!” he cried. “Leave the ivory! Dead men have no use for ivory!” Some of the Manyuema started to lay down their loads, but this was altogether too much for the avaricious Arabs.”
- countable, uncountableA creamy white color, the color of ivory.
- countable, uncountableSomething made from or resembling ivory.
- collective, countable, plural, singular, uncountableThe teeth.
“Ye forgot some o' yer ivories, didn't ye, on th' grass?”
- collective, countable, plural, singular, uncountableThe keys of a piano; or, the white keys, as opposed to the black keys (ebonies).
“to tickle the ivories”
“Tony had gone into the storage room and gotten two more standing lamps, one placed near the ebonies and ivories.”
- countable, informal, uncountableA 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”
- not-comparableMade of ivory.
“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.”
- not-comparableResembling or having the colour of ivory.
“The walls and ceiling of this drawing-room in Montague Square are painted ivory.”
- A surname from Old French.
- A male given name from English.
- A female given name from English.
“Charlie Parrott wasn't fooled and told Linny to walk softly. The girl's name had been picked from a baby-name book which reflected a brief fashion of naming girls for expensive wedding gifts of an ear”
Formsivories(plural)