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
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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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 11 Mar. 2026.
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