ether

noun

ˈē-thər 

1

a

: the rarefied element formerly believed to fill the upper regions of space

b

: the upper regions of space : heavens

2

a

: a light volatile flammable liquid C₄H₁₀O used chiefly as a solvent and especially formerly as an anesthetic

b

: any of a class of organic compounds characterized by an oxygen atom attached to two carbon atoms

3

a

or less commonly aether

ˈē-thər 

: a medium that in the wave theory of light permeates all space and transmits transverse waves

b

: airwaves

etheric

i-ˈther-ik 

-ˈthir-

adjective

Examples of ether in a Sentence

The balloon disappeared into the ether.

Recent Examples on the Web

The outlet added that the smell of the anesthetic drug ether was detected in both instances. —Becca Longmire, People.com, 31 Jan. 2025

The crypto ETFs currently market in the U.S. track just bitcoin and ether or the futures contracts for those tokens. —Jesse Pound, CNBC, 21 Jan. 2025

Sure, the frenetic yet ultra-precise algorithm—perfectly calibrated for carving little communities out of the internet ether—had negative consequences, boosting some pure slop. —Kieran Press-Reynolds, Pitchfork, 17 Jan. 2025

Phillips’ job was to pull that believable essence out of the pop culture ether and connect it to the script, the character’s story arc and, ultimately, the actor. —Valli Herman, Los Angeles Times, 18 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Latin aether, from Greek aithēr, from aithein to ignite, blaze; akin to Old English ād pyre — more at edify

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing ether

• diethyl ether
• ether extract
• ethyl ether
• into the ether
• over/through the ether
• the ether

Kids Definition

ether

noun

ˈē-thər 

1

a

: an invisible substance once believed to fill the upper regions of space

b

: the upper regions of space : heavens

2

: an easily evaporated flammable liquid used chiefly to dissolve other substances and especially formerly as an anesthetic

Medical Definition

ether

noun

ˈē-thər 

1

: a medium that in the wave theory of light permeates all space and transmits transverse waves

2

a

: a light volatile flammable liquid C₄H₁₀O used especially formerly chiefly as an anesthetic

called also diethyl ether, ethyl ether, ethyl oxide

b

: any of various organic compounds characterized by an oxygen atom attached to two carbon atoms