ember

[ em-ber ]

noun

1. a small live piece of coal, wood, etc., as in a dying fire.
2. embers, the smoldering remains of a fire.

ember

/ ˈɛmbə /

noun

1. a glowing or smouldering piece of coal or wood, as in a dying fire
2. the fading remains of a past emotion

   the embers of his love

Word History and Origins

Origin of ember¹

before 1000; Middle English eemer, emeri, Old English ǣmerge, ǣmyrie (cognate with Old Norse eimyrja, Old High German eimuria ), equivalent to ǣm- (cognate with Old Norse eimr steam) + -erge, -yrie, akin to Old English ys ( e ) le ember, Latin ūrere to burn

Word History and Origins

Origin of ember¹

Old English ǣmyrge; related to Old Norse eimyrja ember, eimr smoke, Old High German eimuria ember

Example Sentences

In a matter of hours, the Mountain fire charged rapidly across the Santa Susana Mountains and into nearby foothill neighborhoods, forcing widespread evacuations and demanding intense firefights from crews showered in red-hot embers.

From Los Angeles Times

Experts still disagree over whether homes can be completely fireproofed in a wind-driven ember fire.

From Los Angeles Times

Contrary to popular belief, the most destructive force in most Southern California wildfires isn’t the flames — it’s the embers.

From Los Angeles Times

Would some of those players not here in Athens have been more minded to report had this been Tuchel's first game in charge as opposed to the dying embers of the Carsley interim regime?

From BBC

However, he said it’s nothing compared to the extreme Santa Ana winds that drove the growth of this fire, pushing embers more than a mile ahead of the main blaze.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• ash
• cinder