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

They allege the state allowed “embers from the Lachman Fire to smolder, rekindle and then re-ignite in dry brush” as the National Weather Service warned of dangerous Santa Ana winds.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

He said he thinks the fear homeless people will spark large fires is overblown and he said he cooks with propane, not wood, which can easily spread embers.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Fuel breaks are the most hotly debated, in part because fuel breaks alone do little to stop a wind-driven fire throwing embers miles away.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Nordskog said that thermal imaging is the safest way to spot such embers.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

As for the pictures, they’re shrouded in ominous shadows, but although the raven’s eyes burn like embers, the bird does nothing worse than cry “nevermore,” and Lenore, when she appears, looks downright comely.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• ash 
• cinder