ivory

ivory — noun

1. the hard, cream-coloured material that grows as the long outer teeth (tusks) of

1.nounB1
Definition

the hard, cream-coloured material that grows as the long outer teeth (tusks) of elephants, walruses, and related mammals, once widely carved into jewellery, ornaments, and decorative pieces.

Example

The museum's display includes a set of carved ivory bracelets from the Ming dynasty.

collocation: carved ivory / ivory bracelet

International trade in elephant ivory has been banned in most countries since 1989.

collocation: trade in ivory / ban ivory

Common collocations
  • carved ivory
  • polished ivory
  • raw ivory
  • antique ivory
  • ivory trade
  • ivory ban
  • ivory carving
Synonyms
  • tusk

    refers to the whole tooth structure, not the material itself

Usage Note

Usually uncountable (a piece of ivory, ivory is expensive), but may be countable when referring to specific pieces or types, especially in the plural form 'ivories'.

2. a warm off-white shade with a faint yellow undertone, similar to the colour of e

2.nounB1
Definition

a warm off-white shade with a faint yellow undertone, similar to the colour of elephant tusk.

Example

Anong chose an ivory dress for her wedding day.

collocation: ivory dress / wedding

The walls were painted in a warm ivory that caught the afternoon sun.

Common collocations
  • ivory dress
  • ivory blouse
  • ivory paper
  • ivory walls
  • ivory silk
  • ivory lace
Synonyms
  • cream

    slightly richer and yellower than ivory

  • off-white

    a broader term for any white shade with a hint of another colour

  • beige

    more brown or grey in tone; less creamy than ivory

Usage Note

Common in fashion, interior design, and stationery. Unlike 'white', ivory has a noticeable warm or yellow undertone.

3. an object carved or made from the hard tusk substance, such as a statue, jewelle

3.nounB2
Definition

an object carved or made from the hard tusk substance, such as a statue, jewellery, or decorative piece.

Example

The old merchant kept a collection of African ivories on his mantelpiece.

plural form: ivories for carved objects

Sahil paid a high price for the ivory at the auction in Nairobi.

Common collocations
  • African ivories
  • carved ivories
  • antique ivories
  • collection of ivories

Usage Note

The plural 'ivories' is commonly used in antique and art contexts to refer to a collection of carved ivory objects.

Idioms

ivory tower

idiom

a state of being separated from the ordinary problems and realities of everyday life, used especially to describe academics or scholars who do not engage with practical concerns.

Critics say the professor lives in an ivory tower and does not understand the struggles of working families.

The university was accused of retreating into its ivory tower instead of helping the local community.

ivory — adjective

Word family

  • ivories
    plural nounB2
  • ivoried
    adjectiveC2

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/2

All three describe pale, non-white shades, but they differ in warmth and tone. 'Ivory' has a subtle yellow undertone that gives it a warm, elegant feel — it is the most common choice for wedding dresses and formal stationery. 'Cream' is richer and more noticeably yellow, often used for fabrics and dairy-product descriptions. 'Off-white' is a catch-all term for any white shade with a faint tint of another colour (yellow, grey, or blue); it is more technical and less evocative than 'ivory'. 'Beige' leans brown or grey rather than yellow, giving it a more neutral, earthy quality. For example, an 'ivory blouse' suggests a delicate, warm off-white, while a 'cream blouse' sounds slightly darker and yellower, and a 'beige blouse' feels flatter and more neutral.

cream ↗off-whitebeige ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • ivory trade
  • ivory ban
  • ivory carving
  • ivory bracelet
  • ivory necklace
  • ivory statue
  • ivory key
  • ivory tower

Adverbs

  • beautifully carved
  • richly decorated
  • finely polished

Phrases

  • a piece of ivory
  • an object made of ivory
  • painted in ivory
  • shades of ivory

Prepositions

  • carved from ivory
  • inlaid with ivory
  • made of ivory
  • trade in ivory

Etymology

EgyptianCopticLatinOld FrenchEnglish

The word 'ivory' entered English in the 13th century through Old French 'ivoire', which came from Latin 'eboreus' (made of ivory), based on 'ebur' (ivory). Latin borrowed 'ebur' from Coptic 'ebu' or 'ebeu', which can be traced back to ancient Egyptian 'âb' (elephant or ivory). The modern spelling settled in the 14th century.