1. A type of wood:
* Ebony is a dark, dense, and very hard wood. It comes from various tropical evergreen trees in the genus Diospyros.
* It's known for its beautiful black color and is highly prized for its durability, making it ideal for crafting fine furniture, musical instruments, and other luxury items.
2. A color:
* Ebony is a very dark shade of black, often described as a "deep black" or "jet black". It's commonly used to refer to something extremely dark, almost like the absence of light.
3. A person with dark skin:
* While "ebony" was once used to describe someone with very dark skin, it is considered outdated and can be considered offensive today. The term "black" is the preferred term for people with dark skin.
It's important to be mindful of the context and the connotations of the word "ebony" before using it.