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el·e·phant  (ĕlə-fənt)
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Tweet n. Idiom: 1. Any of several very large herbivorous mammals of the family Elephantidae native to Africa, South Asia, and Southeast Asia, having thick, almost hairless skin, a long, flexible, prehensile trunk, upper incisors forming long curved tusks of ivory, and, in the African species, large fan-shaped ears. 2. Any of various extinct animals of the family Elephantidae. elephant in the room A matter or problem that is obvious or of great importance but that is not discussed openly. [Middle English elefaunt, from Old French elefant, from Latin elephantus, from Greek elephās, elephant-, ivory, elephant, probably of Afro-Asiatic origin; akin to Tawllemet (Berber language of Mali) eləw and Mokilko (Chadic language of central Chad) 'êlbi, elephant, and possibly also to Egyptian 3bw, elephant, ivory, and Oromo arba, elephant.]  (click for a larger image)  (click for a larger image) elephanttop: African bush elephant Loxodonta africana bottom: Asian elephant Elephas maximus |
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