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 female given name.

amber

/ ˈæmbə /

noun

1. 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 ) succinic

      an amber necklace

2. fly in amber
   fly in amber a strange relic or reminder of the past
3. 1. a medium to dark brownish-yellow colour, often somewhat orange, similar to that of the resin
   2. ( as adjective )

      an amber dress

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

amber

/ ăm′bər /

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

Other Words From

• amber·like amber·y amber·ous adjective

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of amber¹

C14: from Medieval Latin ambar, from Arabic `anbar ambergris

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.

Example Sentences

A single piece of amber from Myanmar held 39 ostracods, including many from a newly discovered species, Myanmarcypris hui.

From Science News

Profits from the amber mined in Myanmar’s conflict-ridden Kachin State may be helping to fund warring groups in the region.

From Science News For Students

The researchers aren’t sure exactly where the chunk of amber containing the bird skull came from.

From Science News For Students

By participating in the amber trade, some researchers say, scientists may be able to keep them from vanishing into private collections and being lost to the public trust.

From Science News For Students

As a result of these and other ethical concerns, some scientists have begun calling for a halt to scientific papers that describe fossils in Myanmar amber.

From Science News For Students

I've had him on several of my shows, The Britney Amber Show and even on some shoots.

From The Daily Beast

And a perfectly amber whisky might as well taste like an old shoe.

From The Daily Beast

Light amber in color with a subtle sour finish, Fula is one of Casa Bruja's best sellers.

From The Daily Beast

The DVD was accompanied by a personalized basketball jersey and a piece of polished amber.

From The Daily Beast

In some cases, such as those of Dallas nurses Nina Pham and Amber Vinson, the body figures out how to fight back.

From The Daily Beast

The Turkish and Persian pipes have often a small wooden tube inside the amber mouth-piece.

From Project Gutenberg

The varnish of a beautiful amber colour, and there are a few instances of fine red.

From Project Gutenberg

Clean your tube regularly, and your amber mouthpiece with a feather dipped in spirits of lavender.

From Project Gutenberg

He seemed to have abandoned himself to a reverie, and to be seeing pleasing visions in the amber bead.

From Project Gutenberg

The first and largest of these had a thick bamboo stem, an amber mouthpiece, and a tiny, disproportionate bowl of brass.

From Project Gutenberg