# elf

/ˈɛɫf/ (US) · /ˈɛlf/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/elf
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. magical creature

noun · CEFR B1

a magical creature from old stories, often small and mischievous or helpful.

For teachers: a supernatural being from Germanic mythology, traditionally associated with magic, mischief, or nature.

- The children believed that a tiny elf lived in the hollow tree at the end of the garden.
- Folklore often depicts the elf as a capricious spirit capable of both aiding humans and leading them astray with illusions.

### 2. fantasy race

noun · CEFR B1

in modern fantasy books, a tall, graceful person with pointed ears who lives for a long time.

For teachers: a member of a fictional race of elegant, long-lived beings, popularized by modern high fantasy literature.

- In the movie, the elf used a bow and arrow to defend the forest.
- The author subverted traditional tropes by portraying the elf as a gritty, urban dweller rather than a forest-bound mystic.

### 3. Christmas helper

noun · CEFR A2

a small person who helps Santa Claus make toys for Christmas.

For teachers: a diminutive figure in modern Western folklore depicted as an assistant to Santa Claus.

- The department store was decorated with pictures of an elf holding a gift.
- The tradition of the Christmas elf evolved significantly in the nineteenth century, moving away from darker Germanic roots toward a more commercialised image.

### 4. extremely low frequency

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

Initialism of extremely low frequency.

For teachers: Initialism of extremely low frequency; refers to radio frequencies in the range of 3 to 30 hertz.

- Scientists use ELF waves to communicate with submarines deep under the ocean.
- The study investigated the potential biological effects of prolonged exposure to ELF electromagnetic fields in industrial environments.

Usage: Usually written in capital letters as ELF.

## Examples

- The children dressed up as an elf for the school play.
- In many modern fantasy novels, an elf is portrayed as an immortal being with a deep connection to nature.
- The author drew heavily from Norse mythology to construct the social hierarchy of the elf kingdom, emphasizing their isolation from human affairs.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.