ivory
gb/ˈaɪvɚi/ us/ˈaɪvɚi/
B2
English
~ 8000
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B2
entity
1
hard white material from tusks
A hard, smooth, white material from the long teeth (tusks) of animals like elephants, used to make things such as jewelry or art objects.
Usage pattern:
[someone] buys/sells ivory
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse ivory with general 'bone'. Ivory comes specifically from tusks or very large teeth and is often linked to elephants and wildlife protection.
Synonyms
tusk (Refers to the whole long tooth itself, not specifically the cut material made from it.)
Antonyms
plastic (A man-made material often used instead of real ivory.)
Collocations
illegal ivory trade
|ivory tusks
|carved ivory
|ivory figurine
|ivory jewelry
|ban on ivory
Themes
nature
|animals
|environment
|materials
|arts_entertainment
Examples
- The government introduced a ban on the international ivory trade.
- Craftsmen once carved delicate statues from elephant ivory.
- Customs officers seized several kilos of illegal ivory at the border.
- Many piano keys used to be made from real ivory.
- Conservation groups campaign against buying ivory products of any kind.
Learner examples
- They saw a shop selling small boxes made of ivory.
- The museum showed old carvings made from elephant ivory.
- Many people do not buy ivory because they want to protect elephants.
Noun
B2
entity
2
a pale creamy white color
A very light, creamy white color, like the color of ivory from tusks.
Usage pattern:
[something] is in ivory
Common mistake:
Learners may think ivory means any white color. It is a specific kind of white that looks a little creamy or warm, not bright or pure white.
Synonyms
off-white (A general term for not-quite-white colors; ivory is one specific, slightly creamy type of off-white.)
Antonyms
black (The darkest color, often treated as the opposite of very light colors like ivory.)
Collocations
shade of ivory
|in ivory
|soft ivory
|warm ivory
|ivory paint
|ivory tone
Themes
colors
|fashion
|design
|core_vocabulary
|arts_entertainment
Examples
- The walls were painted a soft ivory to make the room feel brighter.
- She chose ivory for the invitations instead of plain white.
- You can get this sofa in grey, navy, or ivory.
- The designer recommended an ivory rather than a pure white to match the floor.
- Ivory is a popular color for minimalist interiors.
Learner examples
- Her dress is a light ivory color.
- The kitchen is white, but the chairs are ivory.
- I like the warm ivory of this paint more than the cold white.
adjective
B2
property
3
pale creamy white in color
Being a very light, creamy white color, like ivory from tusks.
Usage pattern:
ivory [noun]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use *ivory* as a verb or think it only names the material. As an adjective, it always describes color, similar to words like 'red' or 'blue'.
Synonyms
cream-colored (Very close in meaning; cream-colored can sometimes be slightly more yellow than ivory.)
Antonyms
brightly colored (Describes things with strong, vivid colors, the opposite of pale ivory tones.)
Collocations
ivory dress
|ivory wedding gown
|ivory skin
|ivory walls
|ivory lace
|ivory shirt
Themes
colors
|fashion
|design
|core_vocabulary
|arts_entertainment
Examples
- She wore an elegant ivory dress to the ceremony.
- The couple chose ivory tablecloths for the reception.
- His ivory shirt contrasted with his dark blue suit.
- The bathroom has ivory tiles and gold fixtures.
- Her porcelain cup was decorated with tiny blue flowers on an ivory background.
Learner examples
- She bought an ivory wedding dress.
- The chairs are ivory, and the table is dark brown.
- He wore an ivory shirt with black pants.
Noun
slang
C1
entity
4
slang for human teeth
(Usually plural: ivories) An informal, funny word for your teeth.
Usage pattern:
[someone]'s ivories
Common mistake:
Learners may not realize that this use is slang and usually plural ('ivories'). It should not be used in formal writing or serious medical contexts.
Synonyms
teeth (The normal, literal word; 'ivories' is humorous or playful and mainly used in informal speech.)
Antonyms
gums (Refers to the soft flesh around the teeth; contrasted with the hard teeth themselves.)
Collocations
show your ivories
|flash his ivories
|brush your ivories
Themes
body
|slang
|communication
Examples
- The comedian flashed his ivories as he laughed at his own joke.
- The ad joked that their toothpaste would make your ivories shine.
- He opened his mouth wide, showing all his ivories.
- The photo captured everyone grinning, their ivories on full display.
Learner examples
- He smiled and showed his ivories.
- In the cartoon, the man brushes his ivories very hard.
- The boy laughed, and his white ivories looked very clean.
Grammar
Dictionary form
ivory
IPA
GB/ˈaɪvɚi/
US/ˈaɪvɚi/
Syllables & stress
ivory (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (ivory)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: ivory
- Plural: ivories, ivory
Word family
Forms
ivories
noun
Related words
tusk
noun
Expressions
tickle the ivories
1/tˈɪkəl ðə ɪvˈɔɹiz/
idiom
informal
play the piano (humorous)
To play the piano, said in a funny or light way.
Examples
- After dinner, he sat down to tickle the ivories for a while.
- She used to tickle the ivories in a jazz band when she was younger.
- If you can tickle the ivories, we’d love some live music at the party.
tickle the ivories
1/tˈɪkəl ðə ɪvˈɔɹiz/
idiom
informal
play the piano
To play the piano.
Examples
- After dinner, he sat down to tickle the ivories for a while.
- She can really tickle the ivories when the mood hits.
- They hired a guy to tickle the ivories in the hotel bar.
ivory tower
1/ˈaɪvɚi tˈaʊɚ/
idiom
Isolated from real life
A situation or place where people are separated from practical problems and everyday life, often used about academics or intellectuals.
Examples
- The professor was accused of living in an ivory tower, out of touch with reality.
- Some critics say the committee makes decisions from an ivory tower.
ivory tower
2/ˈaɪvɚi tˈaʊɚ/
idiom
detached academic or intellectual world
A place or situation where people, often academics or experts, are separated from normal life and real problems.
Examples
- Critics say the policy was designed in an ivory tower, with little understanding of ordinary people’s lives.
- She left her ivory tower and started working directly with local communities.
- The professor was accused of living in an ivory tower, far from the realities of business.