ivory
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ivory
The hard, whitish material obtained from the tusks of elephants, walruses, or other animals.
Der Handel mit Elfenbein ist heute international streng verboten.
The trade in ivory is now strictly prohibited internationally.
The word has a fairy-tale-like origin: it is made up of 'Elfen' (elves) and 'Bein' (an old word for bone). In the past, people thought the material came from elves because they did not know its true origin.
Alte Klaviertasten wurden oft aus Elfenbein gefertigt.
Old piano keys were often made of ivory.
When 'Elfenbein' (ivory) describes the material, it is an uncountable noun. It is often used in the construction 'aus Elfenbein' (made of ivory).
Im Museum sahen wir eine kleine Statue aus Elfenbein.
In the museum, we saw a small statue made of ivory.
The meaning 'Farbton' (shade of color) can be recognized from context. When the topic is clothing, wall paint, cars, or design, it almost always means the color, not the material.
Die Wände sind in einem warmen Elfenbein gestrichen.
The walls are painted in a warm ivory.
To use the color as an adjective, German very often uses the compound 'elfenbeinfarben' (ivory-colored). This pattern (-farben, colored) is common with many materials that are also colors.
Er kaufte sich ein elfenbeinfarbenes Hemd für die Feier.
He bought an ivory-colored shirt for the celebration.
bone
'Knochen' and 'Elfenbein' both refer to hard, light-colored materials from the bodies of animals. But they are not the same thing. 'Knochen' belong to the skeletons of humans and animals. 'Elfenbein' is the special material from tusks, for example from elephants. The words can be confused because both are hard and often whitish. When it is about the skeleton, 'Knochen' fits. When it is about tusks or valuable old objects made from this material, 'Elfenbein' is more precise.
Im Museum liegt eine alte Figur aus Elfenbein in einer Vitrine.
In the museum, an old ivory figure is lying in a display case.
Nach dem Sturz war zum Glück kein Knochen gebrochen.
Luckily, no bone was broken after the fall.