Elephant Definition

ĕlə-fənt

elephants

noun

Any of an order (Proboscidea) of huge, thick-skinned, almost hairless mammals, the largest of extant four-footed animals, with a long, flexible snout (called a trunk) and, usually, two ivory tusks growing out of the upper jaw: the existing species are the endangered Asian (or Indian) elephantIndian elephant (Elephas maximus), which is commonly domesticated, and two species of African elephant (Loxodonta africana and Loxodonta cyclotis), which have a flatter head and larger ears.

Webster's New World

Any of various extinct animals of the family Elephantidae.

American Heritage

(figuratively) Anything huge and ponderous.

Wiktionary

(paper, printing) A printing-paper size measuring 30 inches x 22 inches.

Wiktionary

(UK, childish) Used when counting to add length.

Let's play hide and seek. I'll count. One elephant, two elephant, three elephant...

Wiktionary

Synonyms:

idiom

elephant in the room

A matter or problem that is obvious or of great importance but that is not discussed openly.

American Heritage

elephant in the room

an obvious, crucial factor or fact that is being ignored deliberately, as because it is unpleasant or disconcerting

Webster's New World

Other Word Forms of Elephant

Noun

Singular:

elephant

Plural:

elephants

Idioms, Phrasal Verbs Related to Elephant

Origin of Elephant

Middle English elefant, elefaunt, from Old French elefant, elefan, olifant, re-latinized in Middle French as elephant, from Latin elephantus, from Ancient Greek ἐλέφας (eléphās) (gen. ἐλέφαντος (eléphantos)). Believed to be derived from an Afro-Asiatic form such as Proto-Berber *eḷu (“elephant”) (compare Tamahaq (Tahaggart) êlu, (Ghat) alu) or Egyptian (ȝbw) (ābu) ‘elephant; ivory’. More at ivory. Replaced Middle English olifant, which replaced Old English elpend, olfend.

From Wiktionary
Middle English elefaunt from Old French olifant from Vulgar Latin olifantus from Latin elephantus from Greek elephās elephant-

From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition