ivories
ivories Lexical Profile
ivories Game Scores & Validity
• noun
The white keys of a piano or similar keyboard instrument, historically made with a thin veneer of elephant ivory (informal, often in the phrase 'tickle the ivories').
"The jazz pianist sat down at the grand piano and began to tickle the ivories with effortless grace."
Objects, sculptures, or artistic carvings made of ivory, or items traditionally crafted from ivory such as dice or billiard balls.
"The museum's medieval wing features an impressive collection of intricately carved Byzantine ivories."
A person's teeth (dated slang).
"He flashed a wide grin that showed off a gleaming row of white ivories."
Word Origin & Etymology
Plural of 'ivory', which entered Middle English via Old French 'ivoire' from Latin 'eboreus' (of ivory), ultimately tracing back to Ancient Egyptian 'abw' (elephant, ivory).