fly ash

American  

noun

1. fine particles of ash of a solid fuel carried out of the flue of a furnace with the waste gases produced during combustion.

2. such ash recovered from the waste gases, used chiefly as a reinforcing agent in the manufacture of bricks, concrete, etc.

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fly ash British  

noun

1. fine solid particles of ash carried into the air during combustion, esp the combustion of pulverized fuel in power stations

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Etymology

Origin of fly ash

First recorded in 1930–35

Example Sentences

In fact, the heaps of fly ash waste produced by coal-processing power plants are often just as — if not more radioactive — than nuclear waste sites.

From Salon • Jun. 2, 2024

"There is an increasing demand for sustainable building products here in Canada and around the world, and materials like fly ash are just the start of a new and important trend."

From Science Daily • Feb. 23, 2024

Plant staff also isolated the affected part of the silo and shut off any further leakage of the fly ash.

From Washington Times • Dec. 20, 2023

A worldwide spike in fly ash from burning coal also occurs in 1950.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 3, 2023

They become concentrated in fly ash, some of which escapes through the chimneys of coal-burning plants.

From "Meltdown" by Deirdre Langeland