The first mention of ivory towers is in the Bible, Song of Solomon 7:4 (King James Version):
Thy neck is as a tower of ivory; thine eyes like the fishpools in Heshbon, by the gate of Bathrabbim: thy nose is as the tower of Lebanon which looketh toward Damascus.
The contemporary figurative meaning is of a place of unworldly isolation. This may be in allusion to the famous Hawksmoor Towers of Oxford University's All Souls' College, which are ivory in colour (or at least, they were when they were built in 1716). The relative lateness of the first uses of the phrase (below) tend to argue against that derivation.
"Each member of society must be ever attentive to his social surroundings - he must avoid shutting himself up in his own peculiar character as a philosopher in his ivory tower."
Thy neck is as a tower of ivory; thine eyes like the fishpools in Heshbon, by the gate of Bathrabbim: thy nose is as the tower of Lebanon which looketh toward Damascus.
The contemporary figurative meaning is of a place of unworldly isolation. This may be in allusion to the famous Hawksmoor Towers of Oxford University's All Souls' College, which are ivory in colour (or at least, they were when they were built in 1716). The relative lateness of the first uses of the phrase (below) tend to argue against that derivation.
"Each member of society must be ever attentive to his social surroundings - he must avoid shutting himself up in his own peculiar character as a philosopher in his ivory tower."
by LongDongSilver00 November 18, 2008
Used to describe someone who believes they are better than people when they are not. People who fit this generally are in danger of falling into a whirlpool of their own douche. When necessary a person can make use of doubling the amount of Ivory Towers a person is on top of.
by Dr. Professor Magnum PI, PHD November 21, 2010
An ivory tower is an Eiffel Tower style threesome that occurs on top of a grand piano. This threesome is made up of two men and one woman. All three participants are positioned on a closed grand piano with the woman inbetween the two men. She performs a blow job on one man while being penetrated doggy-style by the other man.
Person 1: "What would you do if you won $10,000?"
Person 2: "Well I've never played the piano before but I'd probably buy one just to have an ivory tower on it."
Person 2: "Well I've never played the piano before but I'd probably buy one just to have an ivory tower on it."
by JackSparrow11 September 27, 2017
A disparaging term that refers to elitist detachment from, and especially criticism of the everyday world, or of common sense and beliefs.
Let those scholars criticize our beliefs from their ivory tower; we all know how the world really works.
"He needs to get out of his ivory tower and put his feet on the ground."
"He needs to get out of his ivory tower and put his feet on the ground."
by Jack Jones July 10, 2004
A beautiful and challenging map in the Bungie.net video game "Halo 2". Originates from the way Bootron looks down at Noodle from atop the scoreboard (his figurative "ivory tower") after pwning him badly on this particular level.
by Sean Boots December 15, 2004
by chrisskayy August 11, 2011
A syndrome affecting the dedicated academic who stays up in the tower studying and writing and avoiding the rest of the world but which often results in a profound disconnection from others.
by Dr Bunnygirl December 6, 2019