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

He stayed in his truck outside the affordable senior complex, trying to keep an eye on things: warding off looters, putting out ember flare-ups, responding to flooding when the building’s sprinklers finally burst back on.

From Los Angeles Times

An urban conflagration, which jumps from house to house through explosions of millions of embers, “is more intense than a normal wildland-urban interface fire,” Rohde said.

From Los Angeles Times

It was pitch-dark when he drove out through the tree-lined street, as heavy embers and fiery debris rained down.

From Los Angeles Times

Moore will be in charge of implementing the 42 recommendations in the after-action report, which range from establishing better communication channels to how to defend homes where hidden embers could ignite.

From Los Angeles Times

On Jan. 8 — the day after the Eaton fire started and rained down embers — flames engulfed their church.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• ash
• cinder