elephant
English meaning: Elephant
Definition
The largest living land animal, with a long trunk, large ears, and ivory tusks.
Example
“The elephant used its trunk to lift the heavy log and toss it gently aside.”
Another example: “Nobody wanted to mention the elephant in the room: the company was nearly bankrupt.”
Usage — When, Where & How
A neutral, everyday noun for the large mammal. Common in idioms: "the elephant in the room" (an obvious problem no one mentions) and "a memory like an elephant" (very good memory). African and Asian elephants are the two main types.
Etymology & Origin
English — Origin & History
From Old French 'olifant', from Latin 'elephantus', from Greek 'elephas'.
Related Words
Common Collocations
- african elephant
- elephant in the room
- baby elephant
- herd of elephants
- elephant tusks
- white elephant
Word Forms
elephant (n); elephants (pl); elephantine (adj)
Word Tools
Tools & Calculators
Literary Heritage
“To thine own self be true, and it must follow, as the night the day, thou canst not then be false to any man.”
/To thine own self be true/
“Be honest with yourself — and as naturally as night follows day, you will be unable to be false to others.”
“I'm nobody! Who are you? Are you nobody, too?”
/I'm nobody! Who are you?/
“I am nobody — and that quiet anonymity is more honest than the noise of public fame.”
Images
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Language information
- Language
- English
- English
- Script
- Latin
- Family
- Indo-European
- Speakers
- 1.5B