different between ivory vs tagua

English

Etymology

From Middle English yvory, ivorie, from Anglo-Norman ivurie, from Latin eboreus (“in or of ivory”) adjective of ebur (“ivory”) (genitive eboris), from Demotic yb (“ivory, Elephantine”) (compare Coptic ??? (i?b, “Elephantine”)), from Egyptian ?bw (“elephant, ivory, Elephantine”). Displaced native Old English elpendb?n (literally “elephant bone”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?a?v(?)?i/
• Hyphenation: i?vo?ry, ivo?ry

Noun

ivory (countable and uncountable, plural ivories)

1. (uncountable) The hard white form of dentin which forms the tusks of elephants, walruses and other animals.
2. A creamy white color, the color of ivory.

3. Something made from or resembling ivory.
4. (collective, singular or in plural) The teeth.
5. (collective, singular or in plural) The keys of a piano.

   Coordinate term: ebony

6. (slang) A white person.

   Synonyms: see Thesaurus:white person

Translations

See also

• Galalith

Adjective

ivory (not comparable)

1. Made of ivory.
2. Resembling or having the colour of ivory.
   • 1938, Interior Decoration To-day (page 132)

     The walls and ceiling of this drawing-room in Montague Square are painted ivory.

Derived terms

Related terms

• chryselephantine
• eburnation

Translations

See also

• odontolite
• scrimshaw
• whalebone
• Appendix:Colors

Middle English

Noun

ivory

1. Alternative form of yvory

English

Etymology

From Spanish tagua.

Noun

tagua (countable and uncountable, plural taguas)

1. The fruit of the tagua palm. When dried, it can be carved like ivory, and is used for beads, buttons, etc.

Synonyms

• tagua nut
• vegetable ivory

French

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ta.?a/

Verb

tagua

1. third-person singular past historic of taguer

Italian

Noun

tagua m (invariable)

1. Alternative form of pecari del Chaco

Spanish

Etymology

From Quechua tawa.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?ta?wa/, [?t?a.??wa]

Noun

tagua f (uncountable)

1. vegetable ivory

Descendants

• ? English: tagua

Further reading

• “tagua” in Diccionario de la lengua española, Vigésima tercera edición, Real Academia Española, 2014.