elephant en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- (General-American) audio
- /ˈɛlɪfənt/ (Received-Pronunciation)
- /ˈeləfənt/ (Australia, New-Zealand)
- /ˈɛləfənt/ (Canada, General-American)
- /elefant/ (Philippines)
Etymology
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”).
Meanings
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(countable, uncountable) A large mammal of the family Elephantidae in the order Proboscidea, having a trunk, and native to Africa and Asia.
[A] puiſſant olyphant being brought to the place, the grehound ſeming to reioice at the greatnes of the beaſt, rouſed him, and after two or three queſtynges, he lept to the great Olyphante, and after a longe fight ouerthrew hym and kylled hym. So I doubt not but that ſome men […] whiche beeyng ones called to aucthoritee, ioygned with libertee, will inforce theim ſelfes to make theyr miniſtracions noble and excellent.
1541, Thomas Elyote [i.e., Thomas Elyot], “The Preface. To All the Nobilitee of this Flourishyng Realme of England, Thomas Elyote Knight Desyreth Increase of Vertue and Honour.”, in [Aelius Lampridius], translated by Thomas Elyote, The Image of Gouernaunce Complied of the Actes and Sentences Notable, of the Most Noble Emperour Alexander Seuerus, […], [London]: […] Thomas Berthelett, published 1549, →OCLC:
- (countable, figuratively, uncountable) Anything huge and ponderous.
- (countable, qualifier:paper, uncountable) Synonym of elephant paper.
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(UK, childish, countable, uncountable) 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...
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(obsolete, uncountable) Ivory.
He sent rich gifts of elephant and gold.
1697, Virgil, “(please specify the book number)”, in John Dryden, transl., The Works of Virgil: Containing His Pastorals, Georgics, and Æneis. […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC:
- (countable, uncountable) A xiangqi piece that is moved two points diagonally, may not jump over intervening pieces and may not cross the river.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| olyphant | alternative, obsolete | lexicographic | |
| elephants | Number=Plur | lexicographic | |
| oliphant | alternative, obsolete | lexicographic |
Deriveds
elephant trunk fish · mimophant · elephant's trunk · elephant's-tusks · elephantesque · elephant's ear · elephant man's syndrome · elephantid · elephant tree · elephant bug · elephant grass · sea-elephant · he-elephant · elephant creeper · rogue elephant · elephanty · get a look at the elephant · double elephant · Elephant Island · elephant yam · elephant folio · elephant in the living room · water elephant · elephantess · elephant beetle · elephant on the dinner table · elephant cord · elephant's head · elephant's trunk plant · elephant in the room · sea elephant · Elephant Man · war elephant · Elephant's Trunk Nebula · elephant leg · Sea Elephant · elephant shark · elephant calf · elephant dose · elephantdom · elephant's-vine · elephant's breath · Elephant's Foot · elephant juice · elephant tortoise · pad elephant · mammophant · elephant's foot umbrella stand · elephant's tusk · elephant-rain · elephant ear · Elephant Trunk nebula · elephant chess · elephant pearl · imperial elephant · pink elephant · elephant in the corner · elephant flipping · elephants' graveyard · elephant bush · elephant trank · Flying Elephant · elephant louse · elephanticide · elephant's toothpaste · elephant's teeth · elephant snout · elephant test · elephant trap · Order of the Elephant · elephant fish · elephant-colour · elephant bed · elephantitis · elephant walk · elephantship · elephant in the kitchen · elephantback · were-elephant · elephant's-grass · elephant trunk · elephant skin · elephant man's disease · baby elephant in the room · elephant in Cairo · cow elephant · Elephant Hall · Elephant and Castle · elephant-trumpet · elephant's snout volute · elephantbird · show the elephant · elephant apple · she-elephant · elephant race · elephant-gray · elephant-gravel · temple elephant · irrelephant · elephant trunk snake · pseudelephant · elephant door · elephant gun · bull elephant · elephant joke · elephant-tusk · elephant's foot · Most Exalted Order of the White Elephant · elephant trunkfish · elephant garlic · elephant hawk moth · elephant seal · elephant-path · elephant tranquilizer · elephant's ears (Enterolobium cyclocarpum · elephant shrew · elephant-grey · elephant ear tree · elephant thorn · elephant paper · elephant bird · elephantophile · elephantlike · the elephant · elephantfish · eat an elephant one bite at a time · white elephant · elephant toothpaste · elephantry · elephant foot · shoot an elephant with a BB gun · elephant-color · elephanthood · elephant ears · elephant polo · retail elephant · Elephant Gambit · elephant's tooth
Descendants
arewhana · èlëpën · elefadi · elefane · ʻelefanite · eliffant · elevaniti · ʻelepani
Hypernyms
animal · vertebrate · mammal · creature
Hyponyms
mammoth · Sumatran elephant (order Proboscidea) · African forest elephant (order Proboscidea) · savanna elephant (order Proboscidea) · imperial elephant (order Proboscidea) · African bush elephant (order Proboscidea) · savannah elephant (order Proboscidea) · Sri Lankan elephant (order Proboscidea) · African savannah elephant (order Proboscidea) · bull · koomkie · forest elephant (order Proboscidea) · straight-tusked elephant (order Proboscidea) · Indian elephant (order Proboscidea) · Asian elephant (order Proboscidea) · pygmy elephant (order Proboscidea) · dwarf elephant (order Proboscidea) · North African elephant (order Proboscidea) · white elephant · Asiatic elephant (order Proboscidea) · Borneo elephant (order Proboscidea) · tusker · African elephant (order Proboscidea)
Meronyms
Relateds
elephanta · elephantine · trumpet · Elephas · elephancy · howdah · elephantic · deinothere · chryselephantine · elephantoid · Elephantopus · stegodont · elephantiasis · elephantiac · keddah · elephanter · mahout · Elephantidae
Synonyms
elephant · elephant paper · elephantid · oliphaunt
Translations (426)
bg слон (mammal) · moz 'elbi (mammal) · cy eliffant (mammal) · lv zilonis (mammal) · roa-oca orifany (mammal) · bo གླང་པོ (mammal) · gug tapi'itĩmbuku (mammal) · wal danggarssaa (mammal) · dsb elefant (mammal) · fa فیل (mammal) · et elevant (mammal) · wuu 象 (mammal) · tn tlou (mammal) · sh fil (mammal) · fj elefadi (mammal) · sm 'elefane (mammal) · fi mammutti (anything huge and ponderous) · zh 大象 (mammal) · nb elefant (mammal) · ru слон (mammal) · mel gajah (mammal) · jv ꦒꦗꦃ (mammal) · tih gadingan (mammal) · fa پِیل (mammal) · mnw စိၚ် (mammal) · roa-oca olifany (mammal) · sc elefanti (mammal) · ti ሓርማዝ (mammal) · mnk samoo (mammal) · az fil (mammal) · mas oltome (mammal) · bav nsee (mammal) · grc ἐλέφας (mammal) · kl nagguaatsoq (mammal) · sw ndovu (mammal) · la elephantus (mammal) · srn asaw (mammal) · jje 퀘끼리 (mammal) · ug پىل (mammal) · sk slon (mammal) · ss indlovu (mammal) · nl elpendier (mammal) · scn liotru (mammal) · roa-oca aurifany (mammal) · nv bíchį́į́h yee adilohii (mammal) · non fíll (mammal) · sux 𒄠𒋛 (mammal) · sw tembo (mammal) · udu jè (mammal) · la Lūca bōs (mammal) · bdr gaja (mammal) · kac magui (mammal) · anq ʈʰehuːʈʰu (mammal) · rad êman (mammal) · akk 𒄠𒋛 (mammal) · mr हत्ती (mammal) · blt ꪋ꫁ꪱꪉ (mammal) · arc ܦܝܠܐ (mammal) · tea alul (mammal) · ba фил (mammal) · ms cewe untut (mammal) · yai фил (mammal) · rom elefànto (mammal) · udm слон (mammal) · it elefante (mammal) · fi elefantti (mammal) · ia elephante (mammal) · cjm ꨤꨪꨟꨲꩆ (mammal) · bem nsofu (mammal) · or ହାତୀ (mammal) · fo fílur (mammal) · su ᮌᮏᮂ (mammal) · yue 大笨象 (mammal) · new किसी (mammal) · nah elefante (mammal) · tea atũd (mammal) · uk слони́ха (mammal) · zh 象 (mammal) · la barrus (mammal) · ur گَج (mammal) · wym elefaont (mammal) · pt elefante (mammal) · nup dagba (mammal) · de Elifant (mammal) · af olifant (mammal) · de Elefantin (mammal) · pa ਹਾਥੀ (mammal) · btq gawoy (mammal) · dtp godingon (mammal) · my ဆင် (mammal) · jv ꦢ꧀ꦮꦶꦫꦢ (mammal) · hi हस्ती (mammal) · kmq kwɨ (mammal) · sh slȍn (mammal) · bbc ᯎᯐ (mammal) · egy Ab-b-w-E26 (mammal) · kxd gajah (mammal) · wo ñay (mammal) · eu elefante (mammal) · anc mbali (mammal) · ast elefante (mammal) · vo leefad (mammal) · orv слонъ (mammal) · kac magwi (mammal) · ka სპილო (mammal) · gu હાથી (mammal) · kln ebelio (mammal) · clt ale (mammal) · udi фил (mammal) · sh сло̏н (mammal) · pi gaja (mammal) · mcm alfanti (mammal) · syl ꠀꠔ꠆ꠔꠤ (mammal) · rsk єлефант (mammal) · fro olifan (mammal) · jv ꦧ꧀ꦭꦼꦢꦸꦒ꧀ (mammal) · hy փիղ (mammal) · unm èlëpën (mammal) · tg пил (mammal) · av пил (mammal) · rue слон (mammal) · tl elepante (mammal) · itd gedingan (mammal) · xal зан (mammal) · ktb danichcho (mammal) · kw olifans (mammal) · sl slon (mammal) · zh 象 (mammal) · de Elefantenkalb (mammal) · rom woroslano (mammal) · dag wobgu (mammal) · naq ǂkhoab (mammal) · cjy 象 (mammal) · kmr fîl (mammal) · id gajah (mammal) · yao ndembo class 9 (mammal) · sea cig (mammal) · pal pyl (pīl) (mammal) · ja 象 (mammal) · ps پيل (mammal) · ru слони́ха (mammal) · si අලියා (mammal) · sa हस्तिन् (mammal) · hi गज (mammal) · tdd ᥓᥣᥒᥳ (mammal) · bjn gajah (mammal) · sw kubwa (anything huge and ponderous) · osp eleofant (mammal) · sq elefant (mammal) · ca elefant (mammal) · sv elefant (mammal) · csb słóń (mammal) · tl gadya (mammal) · fa فِیل (mammal) · ved බොටකඳා (mammal) · zdj nɗovu (mammal) · tt фил (mammal) · ang elpend (mammal) · tum ndlovu (mammal) · xbn gĕntúl (mammal) · nod ᨩ᩶ᩣ᩠ᨦ (mammal) · pam elipanti (mammal) · ote elefante (mammal) · ady пыл (mammal) · ny njovu (mammal) · tan labata (mammal) · zu indlovu (mammal) · ssy dakano (mammal) · fur elefant (mammal) · jra rơman (mammal) · hu elefánt (mammal) · cdo 象 (mammal) · cja ليمان limân (mammal) · sne gajah (mammal) · fr éléphant (mammal) · teo etome (mammal) · cu слонь (mammal) · mt ljunfant (mammal) · sl slonica (mammal) · tyz chạng (mammal) · khb ᦋᦱᧂᧉ (mammal) · sd هاٿيِ (mammal) · yo erin (mammal) · de Elefantenbulle (mammal) · ami eco (mammal) · ve nḓou (mammal) · ace gajah (mammal) · mhe mberat (mammal) · ktu nzau (mammal) · bdr datu' (mammal) · ar فِيل (mammal) · shu فيل (mammal) · dtp godingan (mammal) · tih mangumbus togup (mammal) · tea tangk'el (Ple-Temer) (mammal) · kam nzou (mammal) · sh фил (mammal) · sh slònica (mammal) · gan 象 (mammal) · mww ntxhw (mammal) · yi העלפֿאַנד (mammal) · oj jejiibajikii (mammal) · osp elifant (mammal) · ks ہۆست (mammal) · gwr nzogi (mammal) · ja ゾウ (mammal) · rom woroslanka (mammal) · nci elepantli (mammal) · ms biram (mammal) · pt alifante (mammal) · gag fillär (mammal) · pl słoń (mammal) · sat ᱦᱟᱹᱛᱤ (mammal) · lez фил (mammal) · sza pemalen (mammal) · mad ꦓꦙ (mammal) · es elefante (mammal) · aa dakanu (mammal) · de Elefantenkuh (mammal) · jhi antok (mammal) · rhg háñti (mammal) · ga eilifint (mammal) · ota پیل (mammal) · ar فيل (mammal) · nus guɔr (mammal) · am ዝሆን (mammal) · xsr གླང་པུ (mammal) · wmw nembo (mammal) · dbj liman (mammal) · pl słonica (mammal) · ks ہۆس (mammal) · tuq kumon (mammal) · ce пийл (mammal) · da elefant (mammal) · ab аслан (mammal) · kn ಗಜ (mammal) · hi हाथी (mammal) · hsb elefant (mammal) · gd ailbhean (mammal) · cv слон (mammal) · is fíll (mammal) · cy cawrfil (mammal) · yua elefante (mammal) · ky пил (mammal) · sa वारण (mammal) · tea ateng (mammal) · mn заан (mammal) · zh щён (mammal) · tr fil (mammal) · jv ꦢ꧀ꦮꦶꦥꦁꦒ (mammal) · chr ᎧᎹᎹ ᎤᏔᎾ (mammal) · tk pil (mammal) · sza pemaleng (mammal) · fi norsu (mammal) · kg nzau (mammal) · ckt эʼԓыпын (mammal) · cme gbɛ̃lŋo (mammal) · ckb فیل (mammal) · ki njogu (mammal) · ota فیل (mammal) · yue 大象 (mammal) · yue 象 (mammal) · mwr गयंद (mammal) · hi पील (mammal) · ak ɔsono (mammal) · jje 코끼리 (mammal) · sid dano (mammal) · fr éléphante (mammal) · ta யானை (mammal) · btq gagok (mammal) · om arbaa (mammal) · bn হাতি (mammal) · lad איליפ׳אנטי (mammal) · nmn ǂxūa (mammal) · ml ആന (mammal) · os пыл (mammal) · pt elefoa (mammal) · sa नाग (mammal) · din akɔ̈ɔ̈n (mammal) · tmo koleq (mammal) · sah слон (mammal) · ibb eniin (mammal) · eo elefanto (mammal) · ur فِیل (mammal) · haw ʻelepani (mammal) · lb Elefant (mammal) · kcg zwuom (mammal) · kaa pıl (mammal) · la elephas (mammal) · lt dramblys (mammal) · tea alaay (mammal) · chr ᎧᎹᎹ (mammal) · skb ซาง (mammal) · shn ၸၢင်ႉ (mammal) · nod ᨩ᩶ᩣ᩠ᨦ (mammal) · te గజము (mammal) · uk слон (mammal) · be слані́ха (mammal) · fy oaljefant (mammal) · th ช้าง (mammal) · fr éléphantelle (mammal) · tea alĕĕp (mammal) · sh сло̀ница (mammal) · sa गज (mammal) · fa کنجر (mammal) · ne हात्ती (mammal) · sza kĕgdo (mammal) · cv сӑлан (mammal) · io elefanto (mammal) · mdf слан (mammal) · se elefánta (mammal) · lo ຊ້າງ (mammal) · koi слӧн (mammal) · kap пил (mammal) · uz fil (mammal) · fa پیل (mammal) · kha hati (mammal) · ak ɛsono (mammal) · aho 𑜋𑜂𑜫 (mammal) · be слон (mammal) · dv އެތް (mammal) · hsb słon (mammal) · spp ńtàsùù (mammal) · cs slonice (mammal) · cs slon (mammal) · mas olenkaina (mammal) · ms liman (mammal) · mas olkanchaoi (mammal) · ur پِیل (mammal) · kn ಆನೆ (mammal) · rm elefant (mammal) · nrf êléphant (mammal) · uk слонь (mammal) · yua chowak jom (mammal) · ctu elefanti (mammal) · pi nāga (mammal) · tts ซ่าง (mammal) · xh indlovu (mammal) · nko srʋfɔ (mammal) · scn lifanti (mammal) · cwg itung (mammal) · ur ہَسْتی (mammal) · ur ہاتھی (mammal) · hak 象 (mammal) · luy enjofu (mammal) · chy tsėhe'ėseeséhe (mammal) · ilo gadia (mammal) · mn ᠵᠠᠭᠠᠨ (mammal) · tuv etom (mammal) · lld elefant (mammal) · txb onkolmo (mammal) · za duzciengh (mammal) · pam gaddia (mammal) · afn ɓɪla (mammal) · pi hatthin (mammal) · iby bɪla (mammal) · tuz gbĩɛ̃lw (mammal) · ha giwa (mammal) · sc elefante (mammal) · mvv godingan (mammal) · dgi wɔɔ (mammal) · mnp 象 (mammal) · ekp enyî (mammal) · mk слон (mammal) · dua njo̠u class 9 (mammal) · sn nzou (mammal) · vi voi (mammal) · el ελέφαντας (mammal) · de Elefant (mammal) · mg elefanta (mammal) · mwl eilefante (mammal) · as হাতী (mammal) · bua заан (mammal) · an alifante (mammal) · rw inzovu (mammal) · tea orang besar (mammal) · arc ܦܝܠܬܐ (mammal) · sa इभ (mammal) · nso tlou (mammal) · dsb słon (mammal) · fr éléphantesque (anything huge and ponderous) · gl elefante (mammal) · osp alefant (mammal) · inh пилла (mammal) · fr éléphanteau (mammal) · zza fil (diq) (mammal) · wo ñey wi (mammal) · ko 코끼리 (mammal) · he פִּיל (mammal) · tg фил (mammal) · crh fil (mammal) · mnc ᠰᡠᡶᠠᠨ (mammal) · bla innóóhksisii (mammal) · bo གླང་ཆེན (mammal) · oc elefant (mammal) · za ciengh (mammal) · ms gajah (mammal) · xbn bĕrat (mammal) · kk піл (mammal) · gag fil (mammal) · nl olifant (mammal) · km ដំរី (mammal) · alt јаан (mammal) · br olifant (mammal) · frm elephant (mammal) · ht elefan (mammal) · st tlou (mammal) · yaq elehaánte (mammal) · te ఏనుగు (mammal) · bcl gadya (mammal) · jv ꦭꦶꦩꦤ꧀ (mammal) · ks ۂسؠ تِنؠ (mammal) · arc פילתא (mammal) · rsk слон (mammal) · nl elp (mammal) · ln nzɔku (mammal) · th คชสาร (mammal) · hsn 象 (mammal) · dag wɔbigu (mammal) · fj elevaniti (mammal) · pt aliá (mammal) · tea talam (mammal) · pt elefanta (mammal) · arc פילא (mammal) · ro elefant (mammal) · so maroodi (mammal)