Descriptions of elephants behaving oddly after binging on overripe fruit go back at least to 1875, Janiak says. ), The Most Surprisingly Serendipitous Words Of The Day, The Dictionary.com Word Of The Year For 2020 Is …. Another word for elephant. 'All Intensive Purposes' or 'All Intents and Purposes'? They are guided by the oldest and largest female of the herd. General (36 matching dictionaries) elephant: Merriam-Webster.com [home, info] elephant: Oxford Dictionaries [home, info] Elephants are the largest animals that live on land. An elephant's most obvious part is the trunk. What Is An Em Dash And How Do You Use It? White elephant definition is - an Asian elephant of a pale color that is sometimes venerated in India, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Myanmar. Elephant, largest living land animal, characterized by its long trunk, columnar legs, and huge head with temporal glands and wide, flat ears. There are two living species of elephants, the African and the Indian elephant. 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. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Which of the following refers to thin, bending ice, or to the act of running over such ice. Dictionary ! (Can we date this quote b… There’s a big elephant in the room and it’s gun control. 2. (figuratively) Anything huge and ponderous. Elephants are natives of the warm climates of Africa and Asia, where they are employed as beasts of burden. 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. See elephant in the Oxford Advanced American Dictionary. I'll count. Which of the following animal names traces its immediate origin to Portuguese? a size of drawing or writing paper, 23 × 28 inches (58 × 71 centimeters). The elephant is 30 years in coming to his full growth, and he lives to 150 or 200 years of age. Look it up now! The gentle, erudite soul within a body the public considered an oddity is the contrast at the heart of “The Elephant Man.”. Meaning of elephant. (Britain, childish) used when counting to add length, so that each count takes about one second 4.1. Test your knowledge - and maybe learn something along the way. We all sat sipping our tea quietly, no one wanting to bring up the elephant in the corner about Joel's expulsion from college. 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. (the) elephant in the room - Idioms by The Free Dictionary. a representation of this animal, used in the U.S. since 1874 as the emblem of the Republican Party. Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. 2. either of the two proboscidean mammals of the family, an obvious truth deliberately ignored by all parties in a situation. Information and translations of elephant in the most comprehensive dictionary definitions resource on the web. Elephants definition at Dictionary.com, a free online dictionary with pronunciation, synonyms and translation. Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. They are found most often in the savannas, grasslands, and forests of Africa and Asia. An elephant never forgets, and we shouldn't forget about them, either. 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 … elephant (countable and uncountable, plural elephants) 1. Learn The Elephant Words You’ll Never Forget (And Help WWF Save A Pachyderm Or Two). The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Definition of elephant in the Definitions.net dictionary. Unless you've been to certain parts of Asia or Africa, you've probably only seen elephants in zoos and wildlife parks. Elephantidae is the only surviving family of the order Proboscidea; extinct members include the mastodons. (Ep. 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. 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? Family Elephantidae, order Proboscidea: two species. Elephants have always been symbolic of wisdom and strength in ancient mythologies and biblical scriptures. Elephants are a matriarchal society; that is, one that is led by a head cow, who presides over her herd of females. No change, except that the order of the animals is Elephant, Camel, Ox. A large mammal having thick, nearly hairless skin, a long flexible trunk, and long curved ivory tusks. 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. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. 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. Donkeys and elephants may be ubiquitous in US politics today, but they weren't always mascots for Democrats and Republicans. Elephants are one of the enormous yet gentle wild animals to exist on this planet, when not provoked. They can live over 60 years in the wild and display complex social behavior. 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. Learn more. 390 Save Herds of Elephants are always led by the females, (known as Matriarchal societies). 3. We’ve gathered some interesting words donated to English from Portuguese … as well as some that just don’t translate at all. How to use elephant in a sentence. Laying Down The Law On “Sedition” vs. “Treason” vs. “Insurrection” vs. “Coup”, “Affect” vs. “Effect”: Use The Correct Word Every Time. Definition, Synonyms, Translations of elephants by The Free Dictionary Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012. Let's play hide and seek. Elephants are mammals as well as herbivores, meaning they only eat plants rather than meat. 1. Previous administrations, Democrat or Republican, had not really confronted China as the elephant in the room. Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free! We use cookies to enhance your experience on our website, including to provide targeted advertising and track usage. 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. 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. The new study reopens the long-running debate over whether elephants truly get tipsy gorging on marula fruit. (Compare donkey. Definition of Elephants with photos and pictures, translations, sample usage, and additional links for more information. Send us feedback. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more. The family Elephantidae also contains several now-extinct groups, including the mammoths and straight-tusked elephants. Why Do “Left” And “Right” Mean Liberal And Conservative? An elephant is an enormous, four-footed animal with big ears and a long trunk. 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 “Elephant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/elephant. 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. 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. Learn a new word every day. Definitions by the largest Idiom Dictionary. 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. Like a queen she exudes an air of authority as she walks the plains of Africa, or Asia. Learn more. Find more ways to say elephant, along with related words, antonyms and example phrases at Thesaurus.com, the world's most trusted free thesaurus. Some parents can act like animals (or machines). Due to the large volumes of stock that elephants deal in, … Definition of elephant noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Why is it that any elephant, anywhere along the line, cannot start drinking, just as he or she pleases? As American as ... an elephant? This herd sticks closely together, rejoicing at the birth of a calf and mourning at the death of a member What does elephant mean? That elephant an me has been side-partners for fourteen years, an here you come between us. One elephant, two elephant, three elephant... 5. An obvious truth or fact, especially one regarded as embarrassing or undesirable, that is being intentionally ignored or left unaddressed. See also white 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. Elephants are the biggest land animals in the world. 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"). “Capital” vs. “Capitol”: Do You Know Where You’re Going? The blood ivory trade caters to a small but hungry segment in China, yet grassroots efforts for elephant conservation do exist. Cans of worms, wild-goose chases, and more. It is the largest living land animal. Delivered to your inbox! 'Nip it in the butt' or 'Nip it in the bud'? African elephantshave larger ears and concave backs, whereas Asian ele… When Elephant begins making an appearance in your life it represents a new, improved relationship with the Sacred Feminine in all Her aspects. — called also Asian elephant, Indian elephant. 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. The African elephant is found on the continent of Africa and the Indian elephant is found in Asia. a very large herbivorous mammal of the family Elephantidae, the only extant family of. Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021, Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition Definition of white-elephant noun in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Menu. Which brings us to the elephant in the room—the rapacious advance of online bookselling, personified by Amazon. Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible). Marcel the elephant takes readers on a journey through his life, recounting his memories full of travel and adventure. With their long trunks and flappy years, they are the most graceful animals to inhabit the forest. Definition of (the) elephant in the room in the Idioms Dictionary. The tusks of the dead elephants are still in place and, as yet, no other species have died under similar circumstances. Democrats And Republicans: Why Are They Donkeys And Elephants? These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'elephant.' Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. 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. Do you know what they mean? What Is The Difference Between “It’s” And “Its”? Three species are currently recognised: the African bush elephant, the African forest elephant, and the Asian elephant. A mammal of the order Proboscidea, having a trunk, and two large ivory tusks jutting from the upper jaw. 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:. Each herd is made up of mothers, daughters, sisters and aunts. The incident has remained something of an elephant in the corner within our family. 2. What made you want to look up elephant? Elephant, the ever gentle and wise Spirit animal, exemplifies focused Power and strength. (uncountable, obsolete) Ivory.quotations ▼ 5.1. 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. (paper, printing) Synonym of elephant paper 4. The elephant in the room was the money that had to be paid in bribes. 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. An elephant is a very large animal with a long, flexible nose called a trunk, which it uses to pick up things. Accessed 16 Jan. 2021. elephant meaning: 1. a very large grey mammal that has a trunk (= long nose) with which it can pick things up 2. a…. All rights reserved. Elephants live in India and Africa. What does (the) elephant in the room expression mean? Elephants are mammals of the family Elephantidae and the largest existing land animals. (the) elephant in the room phrase. There are two living genera of elephants. Did You Know? Elephants are grayish to brown in color, and their body hair is sparse and coarse. Physical description. These are African Loxodonta africanus, and Asian elephants Elephas maximus.. Trunk. elephant definition: 1. a very large grey mammal that has a trunk (= long nose) with which it can pick things up 2. a…. First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English (from Anglo-French ), from Latin, Dictionary.com Unabridged The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Elephants: Slang for large institutions that have the funds to make high volumes trades. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins They were formerly used in war. That elephant an me has been side-partners for fourteen years, an here you come us! ) used when counting to add length, so that each count takes about one second 4.1 anywhere! Online bookselling, personified by Amazon nearly hairless skin, a long trunk of! 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Of online bookselling, personified by Amazon learn something along the way, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Publishing... Cans of worms, wild-goose chases, and forests of Africa and Asia, where are! Include the mastodons live over 60 years in the Idioms Dictionary, sisters and aunts over years. Africa and Asia enormous yet gentle wild animals to exist on this planet, when provoked. The long-running debate over whether elephants truly get tipsy gorging on marula fruit chases and. To America 's largest Dictionary and get thousands more definitions and Advanced search—ad free ” vs. “ Capitol ” Do...