A tusk is a long, pointed, and continuously growing tooth that extends outside the mouth of certain animals, such as elephants, walruses, and wild boars.
Tusks are typically used for digging, defense, fighting, and gathering food.
Examples
The elephant used its tusk to dig for water during the dry season.
Poachers often target animals for their valuable tusks.
The walrus displayed its long tusks while resting on the ice.
Boars use their tusks to defend themselves from predators.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
Antonyms
FangIvory toothLong tooth
NoneNormal tooth
Word Forms
Tusks (plural)
Tusked (adjective: having tusks)
Tuskless (adjective: without tusks)
Origin / Etymology
The word comes from Old English “tux” or “tus(c)”, meaning “tooth,” which is related to Old Norse tönn and German Zahn, both meaning “tooth.”
Grammar Information
Countable noun (e.g., an elephant’s tusk, two tusks)
Used mainly in zoological and wildlife contexts.
Translations
Hindi: दाँत (विशेषकर जानवरों का बड़ा दाँत)
Spanish: colmillo
French: défense
German: Stoßzahn
Italian: zanna
Chinese (Mandarin): 长牙
Arabic: ناب
Idioms & Phrases
Tusk hunting – illegal or legal hunting for ivory.
Ivory tusks – refers to tusks made of ivory, commonly elephants'.