Definitions for ivory
ˈaɪ və ri, ˈaɪ vriivory

Princeton's WordNet(2.67 / 3 votes)Rate this definition:

1. ivory, tusk(noun)

   a hard smooth ivory colored dentine that makes up most of the tusks of elephants and walruses

2. bone, ivory, pearl, off-white(noun)

   a shade of white the color of bleached bones

Webster Dictionary(3.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

1. Ivory(noun)

   the hard, white, opaque, fine-grained substance constituting the tusks of the elephant. It is a variety of dentine, characterized by the minuteness and close arrangement of the tubes, as also by their double flexure. It is used in manufacturing articles of ornament or utility

2. Ivory(noun)

   the tusks themselves of the elephant, etc

3. Ivory(noun)

   any carving executed in ivory

4. Ivory(noun)

   teeth; as, to show one's ivories

Origin: [OE. ivori, F. ivoire, fr. L. eboreus made of ivory, fr. ebur, eboris, ivory, cf. Skr. ibha elephant. Cf. Eburnean.]

Freebase(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Ivory

   Ivory is a hard, white material, derived from the tusks and teeth of animals, that is used in art or manufacturing. It consists of dentine, a tissue that is similar to bone. It has been important since ancient times for making a range of items, from ivory carvings to false teeth, fans, and dominoes. Elephant ivory has been the most important source, but ivory from many species including the hippopotamus, walrus, pig, sperm whale, and narwhal has been used. The word ultimately derives from the Ancient Egyptian âb, âbu "elephant", through the Latin ebor- or ebur. The use and trade of elephant ivory have become controversial because they have contributed to seriously declining elephant populations in many countries. In 1975, the Asian elephant was placed on Appendix One of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, which prevents international trade between member countries. The African elephant was placed on Appendix One in January 1990. Since then, some southern African countries have had their populations of elephants "downlisted" to Appendix Two, allowing sale of some stockpiles. Ivory has many ornamental and practical uses. Prior to the introduction of plastics, it was used for billiard balls, piano keys, Scottish bagpipes, buttons and a wide range of ornamental items. Synthetic substitutes for ivory have been developed. Plastics have been viewed by piano purists as an inferior ivory substitute on piano keys, although other recently developed materials more closely resemble the feel of real ivory.

Chambers 20th Century Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Ivory

   ī′vo-ri, n. the hard, white substance composing the tusks of the elephant and of the sea-horse.—adj. made of, or resembling, ivory.—adj. I′voried, made like ivory: furnished with teeth.—ns. I′vory-black, a black powder, originally made from burnt ivory, but now from bone; I′vory-nut, the nut of a species of palm, containing a substance like ivory; I′vory-palm, the tree which bears the ivory-nut; I′vory-por′celain, a fine ware with an ivory-white glaze.—Show one's ivories, to show the teeth. [O. Fr. ivurie (Fr. ivoire)—L. ebur, eboris, ivory; Coptic ebu; Sans. ibhas, an elephant.]

Editors Contribution(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. ivory

   A cream colored substance composed primarily of dentine that forms the tusk of a variety of different animals.

   Ivory is no longer a requirement for certain products eg. piano keys and ornaments as there are now other substances that can form these products.

   Submitted by MaryC on April 30, 2016  

Suggested Resources(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. ivory

   The ivory symbol -- In this Symbols.com article you will learn about the meaning of the ivory symbol and its characteristic.

2. ivory

   Song lyrics by ivory -- Explore a large variety of song lyrics performed by ivory on the Lyrics.com website.

How to pronounce ivory?

1. 

   Alex

   US English

   

   Daniel

   British

   

   Karen

   Australian

   

   Veena

   Indian

How to say ivory in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of ivory in Chaldean Numerology is: 8

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of ivory in Pythagorean Numerology is: 8

Examples of ivory in a Sentence

1. Abdul Mahdi:

   We do not live in ivory towers - we walk among you in the streets of Baghdad.

2. President Uhuru Kenyatta:

   Kenya is making a statement that for us ivory is worthless unless it is on our elephants.

3. Andrew Wetzler:

   The more we can eliminate legal markets in ivory, the more difficult it becomes to sell ivory illegally.

4. Logan Pearsall Smith:

   When they come downstairs from their Ivory Towers, Idealists are very apt to walk straight into the gutter.

5. Alassane Ouattara:

   I hear talk here and there that there are political tensions, it's not true. Ivory Coast wants to move forward.

Images & Illustrations of ivory

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