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Noun: vegetable ivory
  1. Nutlike seed of a South American palm; the hard white shell takes a high polish and is used for e.g. buttons
    "Artisans carved intricate designs into vegetable ivory beads";
    - ivory nut, apple nut

Derived forms: vegetable ivories

Type of: seed

Part of: ivory palm, ivory plant, ivory-nut palm, Phytelephas macrocarpa

Encyclopedia: Vegetable ivory