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Definition of ivory noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

ivory

noun
 
/ˈaɪvəri/
 
/ˈaɪvəri/
(plural ivories)
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  1. [uncountable] a hard white substance like bone that forms the tusks (= long teeth) of elephants and some other animals
    • a ban on the ivory trade
    • an ivory chess set
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • carved
    • polished
    • raw
    verb + ivory
    • be made from
    • be made of
    • carve something from
    ivory + noun
    • trade
    preposition
    • in ivory
    phrases
    • the trade in ivory
    See full entry
  2. [countable] an object made of ivory
    • a priceless collection of ivories
    • He had a good set of ivories (= teeth).
    • Of an evening she would entertain them by tinkling the ivories (= playing the piano).
  3. [uncountable] a pale colour between white and yellow
  4. Word OriginMiddle English: from Anglo-Norman French ivurie, based on Latin ebur.
See ivory in the Oxford Advanced American Dictionary
trait
noun
 
 
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