ember

[em-ber]

noun

1. a small live piece of coal, wood, etc., as in a dying fire.

2. embers, the smoldering remains of a fire.

ember

/ ˈɛmbə /

noun

1. a glowing or smouldering piece of coal or wood, as in a dying fire

2. the fading remains of a past emotion

   the embers of his love

Word History and Origins

Origin of ember¹

before 1000; Middle English eemer, emeri, Old English ǣmerge, ǣmyrie (cognate with Old Norse eimyrja, Old High German eimuria ), equivalent to ǣm- (cognate with Old Norse eimr steam) + -erge, -yrie, akin to Old English ys ( e ) le ember, Latin ūrere to burn

Word History and Origins

Origin of ember¹

Old English ǣmyrge; related to Old Norse eimyrja ember, eimr smoke, Old High German eimuria ember

Example Sentences

Well, bond markets are split between worrying that a U.S. jobs slowdown portends weak growth and fear that politicians pouring fuel on the smoldering embers of inflation will eventually stoke another fire.

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Strong winds brought the embers to the surface, to grow into a deadly conflagration.

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But he and his neighbors scoffed as public officials sidestepped questions why that fire’s embers were not completely extinguished.

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Spread by erratic, hurricane-force winds, it pushed embers for miles “in darkness and intense smoke.”

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Shawn Tyrie, a partner with McChrystal Group, acknowledged Tuesday that the satellite images they used don’t provide a “definitive picture,” particularly in cases with extreme wind, ember cast and smoke.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• ash 
• cinder