ether
ˈiːθər
Definition Synonyms

Definition of ether - Reverso English Dictionary

Noun

1.
chemistryDatedUKcolorless liquid used as an anestheticDatedUK
  • Ether was used in surgeries as an anesthetic.
anesthetic chloroform
2.
communicationDatedatmosphere for broadcasting signals or digital communicationDated
  • The radio waves traveled through the ether.
airwaves broadcast medium
3.
organic chemistryTECH.class of organic compounds with an oxygen atom linking two groupsTECH.
  • Diethyl ether is a common ether used in labs.
diethyl ether ethyl ether
4.
physicsRaremedium once thought to fill space for wave propagationRare
  • Scientists once believed light traveled through ether.
aether quintessence
Add a suggestion |

Expressions with ether

💡 Discover popular phrases, idioms, collocations, or phrasal verbs. Click any expression to learn more, listen to its pronunciation, or save it to your favorites.
existing in a place that cannot be seen or touched
Her words seemed to hang in the ether.
macrocyclic compound with repeating -CH₂CH₂O- units
Crown ethers are used to complex metal ions.
clear colorless liquid used as a solvent or anesthetic
Diethyl ether was used as an anesthetic in old surgeries.
colorless gas that is the simplest ether from methanol
Dimethyl ether is used as a propellant in aerosol cans.
liquid made from ethanol, often used as a laboratory solvent
Ethyl ether is used as a solvent in chemistry labs.
organic compound used to boost gasoline octane
Methyl tert-butyl ether is added to gasoline to improve performance.

Origin of ether

Greek, aither (upper air) + -er (agent)

Terms with ether included in their meaning

💡 A powerful way to uncover related words, idioms, and expressions linked by the same idea — and explore meaning beyond exact word matches.
chemistry
cyclic ether with a three-membered ring
larger ring
compound with an ether linkage in a larger ring
medical anesthetic
halogenated ether used as a nonflammable inhalation anesthetic
medical
halogenated ether used as an inhalation anesthetic
SSPEabbr.
abr: Sodium Sulfophenyl Ether
chemical used in cleaning or making detergents
chemistry
cyclic ether with a ring of carbon and oxygen atoms
chemistry
colorless gas that is the simplest ether from methanol
chemical
add ether to a substance

Examples of ether in a sentence

  • Ether's properties make it useful in various applications.
  • Messages were sent through the ether to distant lands.
  • The ether was filled with digital chatter.
  • Anisole is a type of ether.
  • Ethers are often used as solvents.
  • Ether was a key concept in 19th-century physics.

View all translations of ether

Click below to see the appropriate translations facing each meaning.
  1. French:éther, milieu de transmission, ...
  2. German:Äther, Ether, ...
  3. Italian:etere, ambiente di comunicazione, ...
  4. Spanish:éter, ...
  5. Portuguese:éter, atmosfera, ...
  6. Chinese:乙醚, 以太, ...
  7. Japanese:エーテル, 空間, ...
  8. Arabic:إِيثر, أَثِير, ...
  9. Hebrew:אֵתֶר, הָאֲוִיר, ...
  10. Russian:эфир, пространство, ...
  11. Ukrainian:ефір, ...
  12. Hindi:ईथर, वायुमंडल, ...
Browse the dictionary entries starting with “e”:

Discover how Reverso redefines the dictionary

Go beyond “simple words”

Get more than a simple definition

Go from understanding to mastery