1. Which of the following refers to thin, bending ice, or to the act of running over such ice. Definitions by the largest Idiom Dictionary. Elephants are a matriarchal society; that is, one that is led by a head cow, who presides over her herd of females. Learn more. By Losing Genes, Life Often Evolved More Complexity, Scientists have some theories on why hundreds of elephants are mysteriously dying in Botswana, Why elephants and armadillos might easily get drunk, Does the President Matter as Much as You Think? The elephant in the room was the money that had to be paid in bribes. elephant (countable and uncountable, plural elephants) 1. Elephants are grayish to brown in color, and their body hair is sparse and coarse. 2. Which brings us to the elephant in the room—the rapacious advance of online bookselling, personified by Amazon. See elephant in the Oxford Advanced American Dictionary. (figuratively) Anything huge and ponderous. Definition of elephant noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. a problem or issue that everyone is aware of but that no one wants to talk about: Her dad’s depression has been the elephant in the room at family gatherings. (Can we date this quote b… Elephant definition is - a thickset, usually extremely large, nearly hairless, herbivorous mammal (family Elephantidae, the elephant family) that has a snout elongated into a muscular trunk and two incisors in the upper jaw developed especially in the male into long ivory tusks:. First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English (from Anglo-French ), from Latin, Dictionary.com Unabridged As American as ... an elephant? Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021, Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition Elephants: Slang for large institutions that have the funds to make high volumes trades. elephant definition: 1. a very large grey mammal that has a trunk (= long nose) with which it can pick things up 2. a…. The incident has remained something of an elephant in the corner within our family. Marcel the elephant takes readers on a journey through his life, recounting his memories full of travel and adventure. Donkeys and elephants may be ubiquitous in US politics today, but they weren't always mascots for Democrats and Republicans. Send us feedback. Elephants are mammals of the family Elephantidae and the largest existing land animals. elephant (n.) c. 1300, olyfaunt, from Old French olifant (12c., Modern French éléphant), from Latin elephantus, from Greek elephas (genitive elephantos) "elephant; ivory," probably from a non-Indo-European language, likely via Phoenician (compare Hamitic elu "elephant," source of the word for it in many Semitic languages, or possibly from Sanskrit ibhah "elephant"). Elephants live in India and Africa. Elephant, the ever gentle and wise Spirit animal, exemplifies focused Power and strength. 2. Each herd is made up of mothers, daughters, sisters and aunts. Let's play hide and seek. The African elephant is found on the continent of Africa and the Indian elephant is found in Asia. Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free! They can live over 60 years in the wild and display complex social behavior. An elephant is an enormous, four-footed animal with big ears and a long trunk. That elephant an me has been side-partners for fourteen years, an here you come between us. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more. Look it up now! Do you know what they mean? 404), The Daily Beast’s 2014 Holiday Gift Guide: For the Blue Ivy in Your Life, Jonathan Demme on Gaza, Transphobia in ‘The Silence of the Lambs,’ and Meryl Streep as a Rock Star. a very large herbivorous mammal of the family Elephantidae, the only extant family of. An obvious truth or fact, especially one regarded as embarrassing or undesirable, that is being intentionally ignored or left unaddressed. We all sat sipping our tea quietly, no one wanting to bring up the elephant in the corner about Joel's expulsion from college. (the) elephant in the room phrase. Meaning of elephant. Elephants are mammals as well as herbivores, meaning they only eat plants rather than meat. What does elephant mean? Information and translations of elephant in the most comprehensive dictionary definitions resource on the web. Three species are currently recognised: the African bush elephant, the African forest elephant, and the Asian elephant. This happened and that happened and if the news arrived at Key West as a mouse, it was often enough cabled north as an elephant. See the full definition for elephant in the English Language Learners Dictionary, Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for elephant, Nglish: Translation of elephant for Spanish Speakers, Britannica English: Translation of elephant for Arabic Speakers, Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about elephant. (paper, printing) Synonym of elephant paper 4. A large mammal having thick, nearly hairless skin, a long flexible trunk, and long curved ivory tusks. Elephants are the biggest land animals in the world. (uncountable, obsolete) Ivory.quotations ▼ 5.1. a size of drawing or writing paper, 23 × 28 inches (58 × 71 centimeters). elephant meaning: 1. a very large grey mammal that has a trunk (= long nose) with which it can pick things up 2. a…. Learn The Elephant Words You’ll Never Forget (And Help WWF Save A Pachyderm Or Two). 390 Save Herds of Elephants are always led by the females, (known as Matriarchal societies). Definition of elephant in the Definitions.net dictionary. Physical description. Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Definition of white-elephant noun in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. We use cookies to enhance your experience on our website, including to provide targeted advertising and track usage. (the) elephant in the room - Idioms by The Free Dictionary. The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition An elephant is a very large animal with a long, flexible nose called a trunk, which it uses to pick up things. The family Elephantidae also contains several now-extinct groups, including the mammoths and straight-tusked elephants. Menu. An elephant never forgets, and we shouldn't forget about them, either. Elephants have always been symbolic of wisdom and strength in ancient mythologies and biblical scriptures. Democrats And Republicans: Why Are They Donkeys And Elephants? They are guided by the oldest and largest female of the herd. There are two living genera of elephants. “Elephant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/elephant. What Is The Difference Between “It’s” And “Its”? It is the largest living land animal. noun elephant, elephants 1 A very large plant-eating mammal with a prehensile trunk, long curved ivory tusks, and large ears, native to Africa and southern Asia. Elephants are the largest animals that live on land. Definition of elephant written for English Language Learners from the Merriam-Webster Learner's Dictionary with audio pronunciations, usage examples, and count/noncount noun labels. either of the two proboscidean mammals of the family, an obvious truth deliberately ignored by all parties in a situation. There are two living species of elephants, the African and the Indian elephant. 14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a, Middle English, from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French olifant, elefant, from L. elephantus, from Greek elephant-, elephas. Why Do “Left” And “Right” Mean Liberal And Conservative? Learn more. “Capital” vs. “Capitol”: Do You Know Where You’re Going? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible). Descriptions of elephants behaving oddly after binging on overripe fruit go back at least to 1875, Janiak says. See also white elephant Elephants are natives of the warm climates of Africa and Asia, where they are employed as beasts of burden. Why is it that any elephant, anywhere along the line, cannot start drinking, just as he or she pleases? Elephantidae is the only surviving family of the order Proboscidea; extinct members include the mastodons. Test your knowledge - and maybe learn something along the way. The definition of an elephant is a member of the order Proboscidea which is gigantic, has a long trunk and thick skin, fan-shaped ears and is almost hairless. ), The Most Surprisingly Serendipitous Words Of The Day, The Dictionary.com Word Of The Year For 2020 Is …. The blood ivory trade caters to a small but hungry segment in China, yet grassroots efforts for elephant conservation do exist. A symbol (see also symbol) of the Republican party, introduced in a series of political cartoons by Thomas Nast during the congressional elections of 1874. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. I'll count. They were formerly used in war. Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Happy the elephant was denied rights designed for humans – but the legal definition of ‘person’ is still evolving January 6, 2021 9.17am EST Joshua Jowitt , Newcastle University Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. 2. When Elephant begins making an appearance in your life it represents a new, improved relationship with the Sacred Feminine in all Her aspects. Learn a new word every day. (Britain, childish) used when counting to add length, so that each count takes about one second 4.1. There’s a big elephant in the room and it’s gun control. What does (the) elephant in the room expression mean? Which of the following animal names traces its immediate origin to Portuguese? The new study reopens the long-running debate over whether elephants truly get tipsy gorging on marula fruit. White elephant definition is - an Asian elephant of a pale color that is sometimes venerated in India, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Myanmar. What made you want to look up elephant? The gentle, erudite soul within a body the public considered an oddity is the contrast at the heart of “The Elephant Man.”. The elephant is 30 years in coming to his full growth, and he lives to 150 or 200 years of age. Delivered to your inbox! No change, except that the order of the animals is Elephant, Camel, Ox. Family Elephantidae, order Proboscidea: two species. — called also Asian elephant, Indian elephant. These are African Loxodonta africanus, and Asian elephants Elephas maximus.. Trunk. Another word for elephant. 'All Intensive Purposes' or 'All Intents and Purposes'? a very large herbivorous mammal of the family Elephantidae, the only extant family of proboscideans and comprising the genera Loxodonta (African elephants) and Elephus (Asian elephants): elephants of all species are characterized by a long, prehensile trunk formed of the nose and upper lip, pillarlike legs, and prominent tusks, which are possessed by both genders of Loxodonta and just the males of … Unless you've been to certain parts of Asia or Africa, you've probably only seen elephants in zoos and wildlife parks. Yet cetaceans and elephants can fast for much longer, “and this somehow tells us that they must have found different ways to fuel their brain during periods of starvation,” Hiller said. Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012. Find more ways to say elephant, along with related words, antonyms and example phrases at Thesaurus.com, the world's most trusted free thesaurus. It is as large as an elephant, and its horns of enormous size; and even cave-tigers could not always master such cattle as they. Definition of (the) elephant in the room in the Idioms Dictionary. Like a queen she exudes an air of authority as she walks the plains of Africa, or Asia. With their long trunks and flappy years, they are the most graceful animals to inhabit the forest. They are found most often in the savannas, grasslands, and forests of Africa and Asia. Elephants are one of the enormous yet gentle wild animals to exist on this planet, when not provoked. All rights reserved. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Elephant, largest living land animal, characterized by its long trunk, columnar legs, and huge head with temporal glands and wide, flat ears. Laying Down The Law On “Sedition” vs. “Treason” vs. “Insurrection” vs. “Coup”, “Affect” vs. “Effect”: Use The Correct Word Every Time. We found 50 dictionaries with English definitions that include the word elephant: Click on the first link on a line below to go directly to a page where "elephant" is defined. An elephant's most obvious part is the trunk. The elephant is a symbol of unmatched strength, and with grace she carries the spirit animal energies of patience, wisdom and the jewels of contemplative meditation. How to use elephant in a sentence. (Ep. Cans of worms, wild-goose chases, and more. elephant feet: A term of art referring to the appearance of the invasive front of verrucous carcinoma of mucocutaneous tissues, a low-grade tumour that is wide and flat with minimal focal digit-like extensions, which, to the imaginative eye, has been likened to a pachyderm’s feet. African elephantshave larger ears and concave backs, whereas Asian ele… The tusks of the dead elephants are still in place and, as yet, no other species have died under similar circumstances. (Compare donkey. Due to the large volumes of stock that elephants deal in, … A mammal of the order Proboscidea, having a trunk, and two large ivory tusks jutting from the upper jaw. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins So I felt, great, I went to James Bond and he said no, so I can now go to the doctor from The Elephant Man. Definition, Synonyms, Translations of elephants by The Free Dictionary a representation of this animal, used in the U.S. since 1874 as the emblem of the Republican Party. by any standard, the new shopping mall will be an, Founded in 1946, the prices were still marked in black Sharpie, and shoppers paid a dime to ride the mechanical, The farm had been invaded by Annabelle the, Though the #FreeKaavan movement is gaining worldwide attention now, Cher has been working on getting the 36-year-old, The overall campaign raised $2 million and blanketed the region with creative, sometimes provocative flyers – including one that implicitly reminded voters that Metro euthanized Packy the, Post the Definition of elephant to Facebook, Share the Definition of elephant on Twitter. This herd sticks closely together, rejoicing at the birth of a calf and mourning at the death of a member 3. Accessed 16 Jan. 2021. Some parents can act like animals (or machines). We’ve gathered some interesting words donated to English from Portuguese … as well as some that just don’t translate at all. Dictionary ! What Is An Em Dash And How Do You Use It? Learn about the threats to survival elephants and other animals face with this list of important words—and what World Wildlife Fund (WWF) is doing to help. Previous administrations, Democrat or Republican, had not really confronted China as the elephant in the room. General (36 matching dictionaries) elephant: Merriam-Webster.com [home, info] elephant: Oxford Dictionaries [home, info] One elephant, two elephant, three elephant... 5. Did You Know? Elephants definition at Dictionary.com, a free online dictionary with pronunciation, synonyms and translation. Definition of Elephants with photos and pictures, translations, sample usage, and additional links for more information. These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'elephant.' 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