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

Firefighters continued to douse the building with water to cool the structure and prevent embers from re-igniting.

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The ember cast transformed what started as a wildfire into a full-blown urban conflagration.

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I practically choke on my own saliva—the lines, edges, and indentations of my palm pattern are now crackling orange, like embers on a grill.

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Still, an ember of hope kindled deep within him.

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Their russet hair looked almost gray in the color-stealing light of the moon, but each time they passed beneath a street lamp the auburn sheen glowed like an ember.

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Related Words

• ash 
• cinder