Ivory is a hard white substance that forms the tusks of some animals, or an object made of it. It can also mean a pale colour between white and yellow. Learn more about ivory with pictures, pronunciation and collocations. IVORY TOWER definition : 1. To live or be in an ivory tower is not to know about or to want to avoid the ordinary and…. Learn more. Ivory , variety of dentin of which the tusk of the elephant is composed and which is prized for its beauty, durability, and suitability for carving. The tusk is the upper incisor and continues to grow throughout the lifetime of male and female African elephants and of the male Indian elephant; the Discover the significance and symbolism of the name Ivory , which originates from English and evokes the image of purity and strength like the white tusks of an elephant.