As a noun, this word does mean 'elephant'. As a verb, it means 'to resemble'. Please see http://translate.google.com/#zh-CN/en/%E8%B1%A1, or any dictionary.

I found this conversation very interesting, http://www.cantonese.sheik.co.uk/phorum/read.php?1,16341, though I'm not sure how accurate it is - perhaps the last bit might clear some of this up:

<strong>The major difference between 象 and 像 is that 象 is an elephant, like 大笨象 (big elephant), 石象 (stone elephant), etc whereas 像 means "to look like, resemble", e.g. 好像 (seem, be like).

But the subtle difference is that 象 also refers to an abstract image, such as 印象 (impression), 形象 (personal image), 現象 (phenomenon), 異象 (abnormal phenomenon), 景象 (scene), 幻象 (illusion), 險象 (dangerous situation), whereas 像 refers to a physical image, such as 人像 (portrait), 畫像 (portrayal), 石像 (stone statue), 錄像 (video recording).</strong>



