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View synonyms for amber

amber

1

[am-ber]

noun

  1. a pale yellow, sometimes reddish or brownish, fossil resin of vegetable origin, translucent, brittle, and capable of gaining a negative electrical charge by friction and of being an excellent insulator: used for making jewelry and other ornamental articles.

  2. the yellowish-brown color of resin.



adjective

  1. of the color of amber; yellowish-brown.

    amber fields of grain.

  2. made of amber.

    amber earrings.

Amber

2

[am-ber]

noun

  1. a first name.

amber

/ ˈæmbə /

noun

    1. a yellow or yellowish-brown hard translucent fossil resin derived from extinct coniferous trees that occurs in Tertiary deposits and often contains trapped insects. It is used for jewellery, ornaments, etc

    2. ( as modifier )

      an amber necklace

  1. a strange relic or reminder of the past

    1. a medium to dark brownish-yellow colour, often somewhat orange, similar to that of the resin

    2. ( as adjective )

      an amber dress

  2. an amber traffic light used as a warning between red and green

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

amber

  1. A hard, translucent, brownish-yellow substance that is the fossilized resin of ancient trees. It often contains fossil insects.

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Other Word Forms

  • amberlike adjective
  • ambery adjective
  • amberous adjective
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Word History and Origins

Origin of amber1

1350–1400; Middle English ambre < Old French < Medieval Latin ambra < Arabic ʿanbar ambergris; confusion of the dissimilar substances perhaps because both were rare, valuable, and found on seacoasts
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Word History and Origins

Origin of amber1

C14: from Medieval Latin ambar, from Arabic `anbar ambergris
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A Closer Look

Certain trees, especially conifers, produce a sticky substance called resin to protect themselves against insects. Normally, it decays in oxygen through the action of bacteria. However, if the resin happens to fall into wet mud or sand containing little oxygen, it can harden and eventually fossilize, becoming the yellowish, translucent substance known as amber. If any insects or other organisms are trapped in the resin before it hardens, they can be preserved, often in exquisite detail. By studying these preserved organisms, scientists are able learn key facts about life on Earth millions of years ago.
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Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

In echoes of the Cold War, passengers on the "Yantar", the Russian word for amber, are locked inside for the three hours it spends traversing Lithuania.

Read more on Barron's

The point is that a government office—and that’s what the White House is, aside from an official residence—can’t be set in amber, unchanging for all time.

In the clip, Warburton, as the fan favorite character of Patrick, promises “amber waves of grain” and “purple mountain majesties” while showcasing red, white and blue mouse ears fit for the Fourth of July.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

She said this was a yellow weather warning not an amber one, "a short time of heavy rainfall, so this is concerning".

Read more on BBC

And while the film’s hyper-personal nature ultimately dulls some of its thrust, “Stiller & Meara: Nothing Is Lost” functions beautifully as a charming tale of true love, cast in amber.

Read more on Salon

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