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

Cryptocurrency prices extended their slide to 7% for the week, with declines across the board but concentrated on tokens other than market leaders bitcoin and ether as investors appear to be adopting risk-off strategies. —Maria Gracia Santillana Linares, Forbes, 20 Apr. 2023

Heart also accepted more than 2.3 million ether tokens from December 2019 to November 2020, worth more than $678 million at the time, as noted in the lawsuit. —Elizabeth Napolitano, CBS News, 2 Aug. 2023

More recently, though, metabolic metaphors and processes are emerging alongside, and sometimes overtaking, fungi’s place in the cultural ether. —Kelly Pendergrast, WIRED, 14 July 2023

We’re told that out there, in the constitutional ether, lies a strict separation of powers that precludes any interference by Congress and the president with the independence of judges. —Jesús Rodríguez, Washington Post, 5 May 2023

Bitcoin rose 2% to end the day above $25,000 after hovering below the level earlier in the day, while ether gained 1.7% to $1,668, according to Dow Jones Market Data. —WSJ, 15 June 2023

Cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase is sitting on a $1.5 billion pile of phantom cryptocurrency pegged to the price of ether. —Javier Paz, Forbes, 3 May 2023

It is made with PEEK (Polyether ether ketone), a strong plastic that is known for resisting harsh chemicals and holding its form at high temperatures, which allows this brush to handle up to 600°F of heat. —Jack Byram, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 Apr. 2023

The latter is derivative of the cryptocurrency ether that is locked up until the Ethereum network transitions to a less energy-intensive model. —Diego Lasarte, Quartz, 10 Apr. 2023

See More

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

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

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