vegetable ivory
noun
1
: the hard white opaque endosperm of the ivory nut that takes a high polish and is used as a substitute for ivory
2
Examples of vegetable ivory in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The pieces are not made from any kind of ivory — not elephant ivory, not walrus ivory, not whale ivory, not even vegetable ivory.
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Tribune News Service, al, 1 June 2022
Tribune News Service, al, 1 June 2022
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'vegetable ivory.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1842, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Dictionary Entries Near vegetable ivory
Cite this Entry
“Vegetable ivory.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/vegetable%20ivory. Accessed 28 Nov. 2023.
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