tusk Meaning, Definition & Usage

noun a hard smooth ivory colored dentine that makes up most of the tusks of elephants and walruses
ivory.
noun a long pointed tooth specialized for fighting or digging; especially in an elephant or walrus or hog
verb stab or pierce with a horn or tusk
horn.
- the rhino horned the explorer
verb remove the tusks of animals
detusk.
- tusk an elephant

OE. tusk, the same word as tusch, AS. tusc. See Tush a tooth.

(Zoöl.) One of the elongated incisor or canine teeth of the wild boar, elephant, etc.; hence, any long, protruding tooth.
(Zoöl.) A toothshell, or Dentalium; -- called also tusk-shell.
(Carp.) A projecting member like a tenon, and serving the same or a similar purpose, but composed of several steps, or offsets. Thus, in the illustration, a is the tusk, and each of the several parts, or offsets, is called a tooth.