noun, plural -ries, adjective | 1. | the hard white substance, a variety of dentin, composing the main part of the tusks of the elephant, walrus, etc. |
| 2. | this substance when taken from a dead animal and used to make carvings, billiard balls, etc. |
| 3. | some substance resembling this. |
| 4. | an article made of this substance, as a carving or a billiard ball. |
| 5. | a tusk, as of an elephant. |
| 6. | dentin of any kind. |
| 7. | Slang. a tooth, or the teeth. |
| 8. | ivories, Slang.
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| 9. | Also called vegetable ivory. the hard endosperm of the ivory nut, used for ornamental purposes, for buttons, etc. |
| 10. | a creamy or yellowish white. |
| 11. | a smooth paper finish produced by coating with beeswax before calendering. |
| 12. | consisting or made of ivory. |
| 13. | of the color ivory. |

"Et Vigny, plus secret, Comme en sa tour d'ivoire, avant midi rentrait." [Saine-Beuve, "Pensées d'Août, a M. Villemain," 1837]
Ivory
(Heb. pl. shenhabbim, the "tusks of elephants") was early used in decorations by the Egyptians, and a great trade in it was carried on by the Assyrians (Ezek. 27:6; Rev. 18:12). It was used by the Phoenicians to ornament the box-wood rowing-benches of their galleys, and Hiram's skilled workmen made Solomon's throne of ivory (1 Kings 10:18). It was brought by the caravans of Dedan (Isa. 21:13), and from the East Indies by the navy of Tarshish (1 Kings 10:22). Many specimens of ancient Egyptian and Assyrian ivory-work have been preserved. The word _habbim_ is derived from the Sanscrit _ibhas_, meaning "elephant," preceded by the Hebrew article (ha); and hence it is argued that Ophir, from which it and the other articles mentioned in 1 Kings 10:22 were brought, was in India.