cinder

[ sin-der ]

noun

1. a partially or mostly burned piece of coal, wood, etc.
2. cinders,
   1. any residue of combustion; ashes.
   2. Geology. coarse scoriae erupted by volcanoes.
3. a live, flameless coal; ember.
4. Metallurgy.
   1. slag ¹( def 1 ).
   2. a mixture of ashes and slag.

verb (used with object)

1. to spread cinders on:

   The highway department salted and cindered the icy roads.

2. Archaic. to reduce to cinders.

verb (used without object)

1. to spread cinders on a surface, as a road or sidewalk:

   My neighbor began cindering as soon as the first snowflake fell.

cinder

/ ˈsɪndə /

noun

1. a piece of incombustible material left after the combustion of coal, coke, etc; clinker
2. a piece of charred material that burns without flames; ember
3. Also calledsinter any solid waste from smelting or refining
4. plural fragments of volcanic lava; scoriae

verb

1. rare.
   tr to burn to cinders

Derived Forms

• ˈcindery, adjective

Other Words From

• cinder·y cinder·ous adjective
• cinder·like adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of cinder¹

before 900; Middle English synder, Old English sinder slag; cognate with German Sinter, Old Norse sindr; c- (for s- ) < French cendre ashes

Word History and Origins

Origin of cinder¹

Old English sinder; related to Old Norse sindr, Old High German sintar, Old Slavonic sedra stalactite

Idioms and Phrases

see burned to a cinder .

Example Sentences

Standing in front of a green cinder block garage papered in Trump-Pence signs, a bright yellow garden hose within arm’s reach, the once-revered mayor of New York announced plans to file lawsuits in multiple states and painted Philadelphia, a Democratic stronghold in a pivotal swing state, as a den of corruption where the election was being stolen from Trump in broad daylight.

From Los Angeles Times

There is nowhere to go, and for those of us who still believe in the ideals of voting, a free press, the rule of law, and fundamental equality, there is nothing to be done but to keep trying to perfect those same systems as they are being jacked up on cinder blocks and sold for parts.

From Slate

As Brian Fishman, a co-founder of Cinder, a software platform for trust and safety, posted: “Telegram is another level: it has been the key hub for Isis for a decade. It tolerates CSAM. It's ignored reasonable law enforcement engagement for years. It’s not 'light' content moderation; it’s a different approach entirely.”

From BBC

Helene washed away polling sites up and down the North Toe River — including part of the cinder block foundation of the Green Valley Volunteer Fire Department and the brick walls of the Roaring Creek Freewill Baptist Church.

From Los Angeles Times

As Brian Fishman, a co-founder of Cinder, a software platform for trust and safety, posted: “Telegram is another level: it has been the key hub for Isis for a decade. It tolerates CSAM. It's ignored reasonable law enforcement engagement for years. It’s not 'light' content moderation; it’s a different approach entirely.”

From BBC

Related Words

• ember
• soot