elephant Meaning & Definition
What Does Elephant Mean?
Elephant is used as a noun meaning A large mammal of the family Elephantidae in the order Proboscidea, having a trunk, and native to Africa and Asia. It can also mean Anything huge and ponderous.
Elephant in Brief
| Part of speech | noun |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | /ˈɛlɪfənt/ |
| Synonyms | Elephas, Loxodonta and africana |
| Plural | elephants |
Elephant Definition (Noun)
- A large mammal of the family Elephantidae in the order Proboscidea, having a trunk, and native to Africa and Asia.
- Anything huge and ponderous.
- Synonym of elephant paper.
- Used when counting to add length, so that each count takes about one second.
Let's play hide and seek. I'll count. One elephant, two elephant, three elephant...
- Ivory.
- A xiangqi piece that is moved two points diagonally, may not jump over intervening pieces and may not cross the river.
Noun
- A mammal of the order Proboscidea, having a trunk, and two large ivory tusks jutting from the upper jaw.
Noun
- A large size of paper, measuring 23 by 28 inches, or sometimes 22 by 30, or (double elephant paper) 26 by 40 inches.
Synonyms of Elephant
Elephant synonyms and antonyms →Elephant in a Sentence
Let's play hide and seek. I'll count. One elephant, two elephant, three elephant...
Word Forms & Grammar
elephant (countable and uncountable, plural elephants)
Origin of Elephant
From Middle English elefant, elefaunt, from Old French elefant, elefan, olifant, re-latinized in Middle French as elephant, from Latin elephantus, from Ancient Greek ἐλέφᾱς (eléphās) (gen. ἐλέφαντος (eléphantos)). Believed to be derived from an Afroasiatic form such as Proto-Berber *eḷu (“elephant”) (compare Tamahaq êlu, Tamasheq alu) or Egyptian ꜣbw (“elephant; ivory”). More at ivory. Replaced Middle English olifant (from the aforementioned Old French form, from Vulgar Latin *olifantus), which replaced Old English elpend (“elephant”).
Frequently Asked Questions About Elephant
What part of speech is elephant?
Elephant is a noun.
What is another word for elephant?
Close synonyms of elephant are Elephas, Loxodonta and africana. See the full list of elephant synonyms and antonyms.
What is the plural of elephant?
The plural of elephant is elephants.