Definition

1. Noun:

   • A type of tropical tree: A tree native to southern Asia and other tropical regions, known for its dense, hard wood.
   • The wood of this tree: The hard, dark-colored, and often black heartwood of the ebony tree, prized for its durability and used in fine furniture, musical instrument keys, and decorative items.
   • A very dark black color: A term used to describe a deep, intense black color, similar to the appearance of polished ebony wood.

2. Adjective:

   • Made of ebony wood: Constructed from or resembling the wood of the ebony tree.
   • Very dark black: Of a deep, lustrous black color.

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • The piano's keys were made of genuine ebony.
  • The sculptor chose a block of ebony for the statue.
  • Her hair was the color of ebony.

• Adjective:

  • He owned an elegant ebony walking stick.
  • The night was ebony and starless.

Advanced Usage

• "Ebony and Ivory": A phrase symbolizing harmony between contrasting elements, famously used in a song title to represent racial harmony (black and white piano keys).
  • The concept of "ebony and ivory" promotes unity in diversity.

Variants and Related Words

• Ebon (adjective, archaic/poetic): Black, like ebony.
  • The raven's ebon wing.

Synonyms

• Noun (for the color): Jet black, pitch black, raven, sable.
• Noun (for the wood): Darkwood, tropical hardwood.
• Adjective: Jet-black, pitch-black, inky, sable.

Related Phrases

• Phrase: "As black as ebony": An idiom describing something that is intensely black.
  • The cat's fur was as black as ebony.

Adjective

1. of a very dark black

Noun

1. tropical tree of southern Asia having hard dark-colored heartwood used in cabinetwork
2. hard dark-colored heartwood of the ebony tree; used in cabinetwork and for piano keys
3. a very dark black