ivory nut
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ivory nut
n.
The seed of any of various tropical American palms of the genus Phytelephas, having a hard white endosperm that is the source of vegetable ivory, used for carving and manufacturing buttons. Also called tagua nut.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
ivory nut
n
Former name (1871–1932): vegetable ivory 1. (Plants) the seed of the ivory palm, which contains an ivory-like substance used to make buttons, etc
2. (Plants) any similar seed from other palms
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
i′vory nut`
n.
the seed of a low South American palm, Phytelephas macrocarpa, yielding vegetable ivory.
[1915–20]
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
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| Noun | 1. |  ivory nut - nutlike seed of a South American palm; the hard white shell takes a high polish and is used for e.g. buttonsivory palm, ivory plant, ivory-nut palm, Phytelephas macrocarpa - a stemless palm tree of Brazil and Peru bearing ivory nuts seed - a small hard fruit |
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