ashes

/ (ˈæʃɪz) /

Save This Word!

See synonyms for ashes on Thesaurus.com

pl n

ruins or remains, as after destruction or burningthe city was left in ashes

the remains of a human body after cremation

QUIZ

SHALL WE PLAY A "SHALL" VS. "SHOULD" CHALLENGE?

Should you take this quiz on “shall” versus “should”? It should prove to be a quick challenge!

Question 1 of 6

Which form is used to state an obligation or duty someone has?

shall

should

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Words nearby ashes

ashen, ashen light, Asher, Asherah, Asherite, ashes, ashet, Asheville, ash fall, ash flow, Ashford

British Dictionary definitions for ashes (2 of 2)

Ashes

/ (ˈæʃɪz) /

pl n

the Ashes a cremated cricket stump in a pottery urn now preserved at Lord's. Victory or defeat in test matches between England and Australia is referred to as winning, losing, or retaining the Ashes

Word Origin for Ashes

from the mock obituary of English cricket in The Times in 1882 after a great Australian victory at the Oval, in which it was said that the body would be cremated and the ashes taken to Australia

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

How to use ashes in a sentence

Warm milk mixed with a spoonful of fireplace ashes seemed to also be popular among 19th century England.
History's Craziest Hangover Cures|Justin Jones|December 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
“At one point they were going to perform a burial ceremony with the ashes,” he says.
Rage Against the Ebola Crematorium|Abby Haglage|November 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In the not-so-distant future, an independent country, which belongs to Kurds, will rise from these wants, pains, fire and ashes.
Dear Turkish PM: It’s Time to Act to Save Kobani’s Kurds|Bahman Ghobani|October 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Ashes & Fire, a pleasant, folky, water-treading effort, followed in 2011.
‘Ryan Adams’ Is No Domestic Bliss Album|Keith Phipps|September 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST

The Oberhausen aquarium erected a memorial of the psychic octopus with a golden urn containing his ashes.
The Amazing Tale of Paul the Psychic Octopus: Germany’s World Cup Soothsayer|Emily Shire|July 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He thrust the Cardinal's mantle into it, and stood over the smouldering cloth, till the whole was consumed to ashes.
The Pastor's Fire-side Vol. 3 of 4|Jane Porter
The Seneschal stood with blanched face and gaping mouth, his fire all turned to ashes before the passion of this gaunt man.
St. Martin's Summer|Rafael Sabatini
Bridgewater, Mass., invaded by the Indian enemy, and 17 buildings laid in ashes.
The Every Day Book of History and Chronology|Joel Munsell
He stirred the smoldering ashes till the broiled fowl began to sizzle afresh.
The Awakening and Selected Short Stories|Kate Chopin
The boy took a piece of wood and covered it with a paste made of ashes and oil.
Alila, Our Little Philippine Cousin|Mary Hazelton Wade