tusk

1 of 2

noun

1
: an elongated greatly enlarged tooth (as of an elephant or walrus) that projects when the mouth is closed and serves especially for digging food or as a weapon
broadly : a long protruding tooth
2
: one of the small projections on a tusk tenon
tusked adjective
tusklike adjective

tusk

2 of 2

verb

tusked; tusking; tusks

transitive verb

: to dig up with a tusk
also : to gash with a tusk

Examples of tusk in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
The geneticists also want to engineer a mammoth with no tusks, so the animals don’t fall prey to poachers. Katie Hunt, CNN, 9 Mar. 2024 Ultimately, the researchers want to edit elephant DNA to incorporate traits that allowed mammoths to survive the cold, like shaggy hair, curved tusks and fat deposits. Will Sullivan, Smithsonian Magazine, 8 Mar. 2024 Yet that one tusk has enabled scientists to uncover remarkable details about her life. Jeanne Timmons, Ars Technica, 18 Jan. 2024 Elma’s tusk, according to a press release, worked remarkably well as a gateway into her past. Jack Knudson, Discover Magazine, 17 Jan. 2024 Study finds new evidence Plans underway to put tusks, bones on public display In addition to the massive tusk, the team of paleontologists collected ribs, a shoulder blade, a tooth and parts of the hips. Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 8 Jan. 2024 Modern elephant and ancient mammoth tusks are elongated upper incisor teeth, and only hold on to traces of testosterone and other steroid hormones. Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 3 May 2023 Ceramic vessels, a boar’s tusk and animal bone buttons dating to the 15th century were discovered, officials said in the Dec. 15 post. Moira Ritter, Miami Herald, 23 Feb. 2024 Wooller knew that isotopes in elephant tusks can reveal migration routes. Richard Grant, Smithsonian Magazine, 24 Oct. 2023
Verb
But those aren't even the loudest sounds that are associated with the big, tusked beasts. Sam Walters, Discover Magazine, 17 Oct. 2023 Sulawesi is home to species found nowhere else, including vibrant hornbills, miniature water buffalo, tusked deer-pigs and some tarsiers, a small, nocturnal primate. Ian Morse, Anchorage Daily News, 22 Nov. 2019

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'tusk.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, alteration of tux, from Old English tūx; akin to Old English tūsc tush

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1629, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of tusk was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near tusk

Cite this Entry

“Tusk.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tusk. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

tusk

1 of 2 noun
1
: a very long large tooth (as of an elephant, walrus, or boar) that sticks out when the mouth is closed and is used especially for digging food or as a weapon
2
: a tooth-shaped part
tusked adjective

tusk

2 of 2 verb
: to dig up or gash with a tusk

Medical Definition

tusk

noun
: an elongated greatly enlarged tooth that projects when the mouth is closed and serves for digging food or as a weapon
broadly : a long protruding tooth

More from Merriam-Webster on tusk

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