WHITE ELEPHANT

Pronunciation (US):

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IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does white elephant mean? 

• WHITE ELEPHANT (noun)
  The noun WHITE ELEPHANT has 2 senses:

1. a valuable possession whose upkeep is excessively expensive

2. albinic Indian elephant; rare and sometimes venerated in east Asia

  Familiarity information: WHITE ELEPHANT used as a noun is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• WHITE ELEPHANT (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A valuable possession whose upkeep is excessively expensive

Classified under:

Nouns denoting possession and transfer of possession

Hypernyms ("white elephant" is a kind of...):

possession (anything owned or possessed)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Albinic Indian elephant; rare and sometimes venerated in east Asia

Classified under:

Nouns denoting animals

Hypernyms ("white elephant" is a kind of...):

Elephas maximus; Indian elephant (Asian elephant having smaller ears and tusks primarily in the male)