ELEPHANTINE


Meaning of ELEPHANTINE in English

|elə|fan.ˌtēn, -faan- also -|fa(a)n.ˌtīn or ˈeləfən.ˌtēn or ˈeləfən.ˌtīn adjective

Etymology: Latin elephantinus of an elephant, of ivory, from Greek elephantinos of ivory, from elephant-, elephas elephant, ivory + -inos -ine — more at elephant

1. : of or relating to an elephant

2.

a. : of enormous size or weight : uncommonly large : immense , massive

all his limbs … were elephantine — George Meredith

b. : lacking in grace or ease : ponderous , clumsy , heavy-footed

wrote some elephantine light verse

they chat with … raucous malevolence and elephantine facetiousness — Warren Beck

Synonyms: see huge

Webster's New International English Dictionary.      Новый международный словарь английского языка Webster.