ash

¹ash

noun \ˈash\

Definition of ASH

1

: any of a genus (Fraxinus) of trees of the olive family with pinnate leaves, thin furrowed bark, and gray branchlets

2

: the tough elastic wood of an ash

3

[Old English æsc, name of the corresponding runic letter] : the ligature æ used in Old English and some phonetic alphabets to represent a low front vowel \a\

Illustration of ASH

Origin of ASH

Middle English asshe, from Old English æsc; akin to Old High German ask ash, Latin ornus mountain ash

First Known Use: before 12th century

Rhymes with ASH

Asch, bash, brash, cache, cash, clash, crash, dash, fash, flash, gash, gnash, hash, lash, mash, pash, plash, rash, sash, slash, smash, splash, stash, thrash, thresh, trash

²ash

noun, often attributive

Definition of ASH

1

: something that symbolizes grief, repentance, or humiliation

2

a : the solid residue left when combustible material is thoroughly burned or is oxidized by chemical means

b : fine particles of mineral matter from a volcanic vent

3

plural : the remains of the dead human body after cremation or disintegration

4

plural : deathly pallor <the lip of ashes and the cheek of flame — Lord Byron>

5

plural : ruins

— ash·less \-ləs\ adjective

Origin of ASH

Middle English asshe, from Old English asce — more at arid

First Known Use: before 12th century

³ash

transitive verb

Definition of ASH

: to convert into ash

First Known Use of ASH

circa 1894

ash

noun , often attrib \ˈash\   (Medical Dictionary)

Medical Definition of ASH

1

: the solid residue left when combustible material is thoroughly burned or is oxidized by chemical means

2

ashes pl : the remains of the dead human body after cremation or disintegration

ash

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

Any tree of the genus Fraxinus, in the olive family. The genus includes about 70 species of trees and shrubs found mostly in the Northern Hemisphere. The U.S. boasts 18 species of ash, 5 of which furnish most of the ash cut as lumber. Most important are the white ash (F. americana) and the green ash (F. pennsylvanica), which yield wood that is stiff, strong, and resilient, yet lightweight. This “white ash” is used for baseball bats, hockey sticks, paddles and oars, tennis and other racket frames, and the handles of agricultural tools. Black ash (F. nigra), blue ash (F. quadrangulata), and Oregon ash (F. latifolia) produce wood of comparable quality that is used for many more purposes, including furniture, interior paneling, and barrels.