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elephant
[ el-uh-fuhnt ]
noun
- a very large herbivorous mammal of the family Elephantidae, the only extant family of proboscideans and comprising the genera Loxodonta ( African elephants ) and Elephas ( 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 sexes of Loxodonta and just the males of Elephas. white elephant ( def 3 ).
- a representation of this animal, used in the United States since 1874 as the emblem of the Republican Party.
- Chiefly British. a size of drawing or writing paper, 23 × 28 inches (58 × 71 centimeters).
elephant
/ ˈɛɪəԳ /
noun
- either of the two proboscidean mammals of the family Elephantidae . The African elephant ( Loxodonta africana ) is the larger species, with large flapping ears and a less humped back than the Indian elephant ( Elephas maximus ), of S and SE Asia
- a size of writing paper, 23 by 28 inches
- elephant in the rooman obvious truth deliberately ignored by all parties in a situation
elephant
- 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. ( Compare donkey .)
Derived Forms
- ˈˌٴǾ, adjective
Other 51Թ Forms
- ···ٴǾ adjective
51Թ History and Origins
Origin of elephant1
51Թ History and Origins
Origin of elephant1
Idioms and Phrases
- elephant in the room. elephant in the room ( def ).
More idioms and phrases containing elephant
see see the elephant ; white elephant .Example Sentences
"It's heavily colonised by penguins and elephant seals and all kinds of sea birds," said Prof Coffin, who studies the undersea geography of the islands.
The dinosaurs included carnivorous megalosaurs - ancestors of Tyrannosaurus rex - and long necked herbivores that were up to three times bigger in size than an elephant.
An elephant is a beautiful animal, but pick it apart and it's got a long wrinkly nose, strange side glancing eyes, huge sticking out ears and a big fat stomach.
Whales and elephant seals glide through the shimmering water, while bears and mountain lions patrol the misty headlands.
But despite the positive news, he said he was suffering "a lot from depression" because cancer had become "the elephant in the room".
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Related 51Թs
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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