ethereal

ethe·re·al

adjective \i-ˈthir-ē-əl\

Definition of ETHEREAL

1

a : of or relating to the regions beyond the earth

b : celestial, heavenly

c : unworldly, spiritual

2

a : lacking material substance : immaterial, intangible

b : marked by unusual delicacy or refinement <this smallest, most ethereal, and daintiest of birds — William Beebe>

c : suggesting the heavens or heaven

3

: relating to, containing, or resembling a chemical ether

— ethe·re·al·i·ty \-ˌthir-ē-ˈa-lə-tē\ noun

— ethe·re·al·i·za·tion \-ē-ə-lə-ˈzā-shən\ noun

— ethe·re·al·ize \-ˈthir-ē-ə-ˌlīz\ transitive verb

— ethe·re·al·ly \-ē-ə-lē\ adverb

— ethe·re·al·ness noun

Examples of ETHEREAL

1. The windows give the church an ethereal glow.
2. <that ethereal attribute that every performer should have—charisma>

First Known Use of ETHEREAL

1513

Related to ETHEREAL

Synonyms

bodiless, immaterial, formless, incorporeal, insubstantial, nonmaterial, nonphysical, spiritual, unbodied, unsubstantial

Antonyms

bodily, corporeal, material, physical, substantial

Related Words

metaphysical, psychic (also psychical), supernatural; impalpable, insensible, intangible, invisible; airy, diaphanous, gaseous, gossamery, tenuous, thin, vaporous, wispish

Near Antonyms

animal, carnal, fleshly; detectable, discernible (also discernable), noticeable, observable, palpable, sensible, tangible, visible; bulky, heavy, massive, solid

Rhymes with ETHEREAL

arterial, bacterial, diphtherial, empyreal, funereal, imperial, material, sidereal, venereal, vizierial

ethe·re·al

adjective \i-ˈthir-ē-əl\   (Medical Dictionary)

Medical Definition of ETHEREAL

: relating to, containing, or resembling a chemical ether