1
: a liquid that burns easily, that is used to turn solid substances into liquid, and that was used in medicine in the past to prevent patients from feeling pain during operations
2
: the air : the sky
The balloon disappeared into the ether.
plucked an answer out of the ether [=out of thin air]
—used especially when describing electronic signals that travel through the airbroadcasting radio signals into the ether
sent a message over/through the ether
Cite this Entry
“Ether.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/ether. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.
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