ember

American  

[em-ber] / ˈɛm bər /

noun

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

2. embers, the smoldering remains of a fire.

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ember British  

/ 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

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Etymology

Origin of ember

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

Example Sentences

Clearly they hoped she would rekindle the dying embers of the show.

From Los Angeles Times

Communication failures and questionable decisions led crews to leave the area prematurely; embers from the small Jan. 1 fire later reignited into the giant Palisades fire.

From Los Angeles Times

We hitched her to the wagon, poured water on the embers, and set off for home on the crown of the road.

From Literature

He reached for a stick and poked the embers.

From Literature

Over the next two days, a series of communication failures and questionable decisions led crews to leave the area prematurely, with embers from the small Jan. 1 fire later reigniting into the devastating Palisades fire.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• ash
• cinder