Word
Definition
n. a very hard, heavy, and dark wood that comes from tropical trees. It is often used to make expensive furniture or piano keys because of its deep black color.
n. a dense, heavy, dark timber obtained from various tropical species of the genus Diospyros. Often used in fine cabinetry and musical instrument manufacturing due to its durability and high polish.
Examples
“The piano keys are made of real ebony.”
“The artisan spent months carving the intricate patterns into the solid ebony chest.”
“The contrast between the pale ivory and the deep, lustrous ebony created a striking visual effect on the antique chessboard, highlighting the master craftsman's attention to detail.”
Examples
simple
“The piano keys are made of real ebony.”
contextual
“The artisan spent months carving the intricate patterns into the solid ebony chest.”
complex
“The contrast between the pale ivory and the deep, lustrous ebony created a striking visual effect on the antique chessboard, highlighting the master craftsman's attention to detail.”
Usage
Uncountable when referring to the material; can be countable when referring to specific types of the wood or the trees themselves.
Etymology
From ebony. First used by African Americans in the 1970s.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C2 ProficiencyIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.8.5–9.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 6.0114–120
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C2 · Proficiency
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/ebony
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「日本語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0