ether

1 of 2

noun (1)

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

The concept naturally arose of the ether as a frictionless, incompressible, homogeneous, invisible substance that pervaded all space like a transparent jelly.

—Martin Gardner

b

: airwaves

broadcasting radio signals into the ether

etheric

i-ˈther-ik 

-ˈthir-

adjective

the ether

2 of 2

noun (2)

: the sky

The balloon disappeared into the ether.

plucked an answer out of the ether

—used especially when describing electronic signals that travel through the air

broadcasting radio signals into the ether

sent a message over/through the ether

Examples of ether in a Sentence

Noun (1)

The balloon disappeared into the ether.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

But Joseph Chalom, CEO of SharpLink, one of the largest corporate holders of the cryptocurrency ether, and a former BlackRock executive, expects the gates to stay shut for a while. — Kevin Williams, CNBC, 1 Nov. 2026

Mad Men and Breaking Bad entered the cultural ether and helped define an era. — Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 26 Oct. 2026

Noun

No, this isn’t another ubiquitous website platform where bids for cars of unknown origin (and at times questionable quality) are seemingly submitted into the ether, and each party hopes for the best. — Viju Mathew, Robb Report, 4 Nov. 2026

The moment is warm and human, centered around the sacred ritual of selecting LPs (or CDs or even reel-to-reel, sales of which are surging) from IRL libraries that don’t disappear into the ether. — Ingrid Schmidt, HollywoodReporter, 26 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

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

Noun (1)

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

Phrases Containing ether

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