Tusk - Meaning, Definition & English Examples
A tusk is a long, pointed tooth that extends outside the mouth of certain animals, such as elephants or walruses. It is used for digging, fighting, or display.
Definition:
A long, pointed tooth, often protruding from the mouth, as in elephants or walruses.
Synonyms:
ivory, fang, tooth
Part of Speech:
noun
Antonyms:
None (no direct antonyms)
Common Collocations:
elephant tusk, walrus tusk, ivory tusk, curved tusk, sharp tusk
Derivatives:
tusked, tusker
Usage Tips:
Use "tusk" for elongated teeth in animals; avoid for human teeth unless metaphorical.
Common Phrases:
ivory trade, tusk hunter, long in the tooth (idiom)
Etymology:
From Old English "tūsc," meaning a pointed tooth or spike; related to Germanic origins.
Examples:
- 1. The elephant's tusk was massive and curved gracefully.
- 2. Poachers illegally hunt elephants for their valuable tusks.
- 3. A walrus uses its tusks to haul itself onto ice.
- 4. The museum displayed a fossilized mammoth tusk.