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; tusking; tusks
: to dig up with a tusk
also
: to gash with a tusk
Examples of tusk in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Mack Degeurin, Popular Science, 15 Jan. 2025
In 2022, an Asian elephant ripped its trainer in half with its tusk in Thailand's Phang Nga province.
—Andrea Margolis, Fox News, 6 Jan. 2025
Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 15 Jan. 2025
Mountain lions, tarantulas, snakes, and tusked pig-like creatures called javelina call the park home, too.
—Pam Leblanc, Condé Nast Traveler, 5 Jan. 2023
See all Example Sentences for tusk 
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Noun
Three years later, Tip attacked again, this time using his tusks to try and gore the same man.
—Mack Degeurin, Popular Science, 15 Jan. 2025
In 2022, an Asian elephant ripped its trainer in half with its tusk in Thailand's Phang Nga province.
—Andrea Margolis, Fox News, 6 Jan. 2025
Verb
Biotechnology start-up Colossal Biosciences Inc., which is using DNA and genomics in an attempt to re-introduce extinct animals, hopes to bring that tusked beast back in the world by late 2028.
—Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 15 Jan. 2025
Mountain lions, tarantulas, snakes, and tusked pig-like creatures called javelina call the park home, too.
—Pam Leblanc, Condé Nast Traveler, 5 Jan. 2023
See all Example Sentences for tusk
Dictionary Entries Near tusk
Cite this Entry
“Tusk.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tusk. Accessed 29 Jan. 2025.
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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
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