ebony
ebony Lexical Profile
ebony Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A heavy, very hard, and deep black wood from various tropical trees of the genus Diospyros, highly valued for fine cabinetry, ornamental woodwork, and piano keys.
"The antique grand piano was distinguished by its original keys made of authentic ivory and ebony."
A very dark brown or deep black color.
"The night sky was a flawless expanse of ebony, broken only by the cold light of the stars."
Any of various tropical and subtropical trees, especially within the genus Diospyros, that yield dense, dark heartwood.
"During the botanical expedition in Madagascar, the team identified several critically endangered species of ebony."
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
From Middle English ebonie, derived from Latin hebenus and Greek ebenos, which is ultimately of Egyptian origin (hbnj).
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.