What does tusked mean?
Tusked is most often used as an adjective meaning that an animal has tusks: projecting or elongated teeth characteristic of elephants, wild boars, walruses, and some other animals. It is especially common in phrases such as tusked elephant and tusked boar. Although the word may sound dramatic or poetic in ordinary conversation, its meaning is straightforward and descriptive. Tusked can also function as the past tense and past participle of the uncommon verb tusk, a usage found chiefly in literary or historical writing. The word is useful because it names the visible characteristic that makes many large mammals immediately recognizable. Its ending can resemble that of a regular English verb, but in modern descriptions of animals, it is generally treated as an adjective rather than as an action performed at a particular moment.
Having tusks, especially prominent projecting teeth.
"The photograph showed a massive tusked elephant standing in tall grass."
Chiefly used before an animal noun, as in tusked elephant, tusked boar, or tusked walrus.
Past tense and past participle of the rare verb tusk.
"The two elephants tusked noisily in the clearing."
This is a rare, largely literary or historical usage.
Tusked is the elephant adjective—but wild boars and walruses wear the same label.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Words that share this root
How tusked is actually used
The adjective is chiefly used attributively before an animal noun, especially elephant. The verb form is rare and belongs mainly to literary or historical contexts.
Easily confused with tusked
A tusk is an individual projecting tooth, whereas tusked describes an animal or thing that has tusks.