1. A type of wood: Ebony refers to the very dark, dense, and hard wood of several tropical trees, particularly those in the genus Diospyros. This wood is highly prized for its beauty, durability, and strength, and it's often used for furniture, musical instruments, and other decorative items.
2. A color: Ebony also refers to the deep, almost black color of the ebony wood. It's often used to describe things that are very dark or black, such as "ebony hair" or "ebony skin".
The word "ebony" comes from the Greek word "ebenos," which was the ancient name for the tree and its wood.