elephant ear
noun
1
also elephant's ear
: any of several plants of the arum family with large heart- or arrow-shaped leaves: as
a
: taro
b
: any of a genus (Alocasia) of tropical Asian perennial herbs cultivated especially for their heavily veined ornamental leaves
2
US
: a thick, irregular disk of fried dough usually served with a topping (as powdered sugar)
Examples of elephant ear in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Here a 'Vogue Audrey' mandevilla takes center stage among 'Baby Tut' dwarf papyrus, a South Asian elephant ear plant, and a South American 'Blackie' sweet potato vine.
—
Steve Bender, Southern Living, 30 May 2026
Grasses, elephant ear and oleander Ornamental grasses like muhly grass and fountain grass add movement, softness and texture to summer landscapes.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Sacbee.com, 28 Apr. 2026
The agency has been working since 2018 with Texas Parks and Wildlife to remove invasive plants — Arundo donax, also called giant cane or giant reed, and elephant ears — from the watershed, but has seen an increase in those species since the flood.
—Liz Teitz, San Antonio Express-News, 23 Apr. 2026
Here, tall plants (elephant ear and dwarf papyrus) contrast with low-growing water lilies and water lettuce in a ceramic planter.
—Midwest Living, 22 Apr. 2026
Of all black foliage, the darkest is a Black Velvet elephant ear (Alocasia reginula).
—Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 28 Mar. 2026
Commonly called 'elephant ears', leaves on popular varieties reach 2 to 3 feet long and span up to 2 feet.
—Barbara Gillette, The Spruce, 27 Feb. 2026
Teens dished out nachos and sugary elephant ears to hungry fairgoers in a brand-new kitchen, even as the 65-year-old milkshake machine still rumbled against a far wall.
—Sophie Hartley, USA Today, 21 Feb. 2026
Also known as elephant ears, alocasias store water in their fleshy rhizomes and stems.
—Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 Jan. 2026
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Steve Bender, Southern Living, 30 May 2026
Grasses, elephant ear and oleander Ornamental grasses like muhly grass and fountain grass add movement, softness and texture to summer landscapes.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Sacbee.com, 28 Apr. 2026
The agency has been working since 2018 with Texas Parks and Wildlife to remove invasive plants — Arundo donax, also called giant cane or giant reed, and elephant ears — from the watershed, but has seen an increase in those species since the flood.
—Liz Teitz, San Antonio Express-News, 23 Apr. 2026
Here, tall plants (elephant ear and dwarf papyrus) contrast with low-growing water lilies and water lettuce in a ceramic planter.
—Midwest Living, 22 Apr. 2026
Of all black foliage, the darkest is a Black Velvet elephant ear (Alocasia reginula).
—Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 28 Mar. 2026
Commonly called 'elephant ears', leaves on popular varieties reach 2 to 3 feet long and span up to 2 feet.
—Barbara Gillette, The Spruce, 27 Feb. 2026
Teens dished out nachos and sugary elephant ears to hungry fairgoers in a brand-new kitchen, even as the 65-year-old milkshake machine still rumbled against a far wall.
—Sophie Hartley, USA Today, 21 Feb. 2026
Also known as elephant ears, alocasias store water in their fleshy rhizomes and stems.
—Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Elephant ear.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/elephant%20ear. Accessed 13 Jun. 2026.
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