ether

noun

ˈē-thər 

1

a

: the rarefied element formerly believed to fill the upper regions of space

b

: the upper regions of space : heavens

2

a

: a light volatile flammable liquid C₄H₁₀O used chiefly as a solvent and especially formerly as an anesthetic

b

: any of a class of organic compounds characterized by an oxygen atom attached to two carbon atoms

3

a

or less commonly aether

ˈē-thər 

: a medium that in the wave theory of light permeates all space and transmits transverse waves

b

: airwaves

etheric

i-ˈther-ik 

-ˈthir-

adjective

Examples of ether in a Sentence

The balloon disappeared into the ether.

Recent Examples on the Web

The Harmony Hack In June 2022, according to the FBI, North Korea’s Lazarus Group stole $100 million worth of crypto, including ether, USDC, WBTC, and 11 other tokens, from blockchain bridge Harmony. —Javier Paz, Forbes, 31 Oct. 2024

The company forecasted flat growth in the category, reflecting a 10% decline in the price of ether in October compared to its third-quarter average, as well as interest rate cuts reflecting market expectations, among other headwinds. —Tanaya MacHeel, CNBC, 30 Oct. 2024

In 1846: William Morton successfully demonstrated the use of ether as an anesthetic for surgery, revolutionizing the field of medicine. —Mark Jones, The Arizona Republic, 28 Oct. 2024

What those numbers tell us is that while bitcoin and ether offer interesting speculative opportunities for those who get a rise from risk, neither is money. —John Tamny, Forbes, 17 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Latin aether, from Greek aithēr, from aithein to ignite, blaze; akin to Old English ād pyre — more at edify

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing ether

• diethyl ether
• ether extract
• ethyl ether
• into the ether
• over/through the ether
• the ether

Kids Definition

ether

noun

ˈē-thər 

1

a

: an invisible substance once believed to fill the upper regions of space

b

: the upper regions of space : heavens

2

: an easily evaporated flammable liquid used chiefly to dissolve other substances and especially formerly as an anesthetic

Medical Definition

ether

noun

ˈē-thər 

1

: a medium that in the wave theory of light permeates all space and transmits transverse waves

2

a

: a light volatile flammable liquid C₄H₁₀O used especially formerly chiefly as an anesthetic

called also diethyl ether, ethyl ether, ethyl oxide

b

: any of various organic compounds characterized by an oxygen atom attached to two carbon atoms