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

Crypto tokens such as bitcoin and ether can be used for payments or developing applications. —Michelle Conlin and Tom Wilson, USA TODAY, 23 Jan. 2025

The same fund series documents for the Trump ETF also listed proposals for funds following the two majors crypto coins — bitcoin and ether — and secondary coins solana and XRP, as well as meme coins bonk and doge. —Jesse Pound, CNBC, 21 Jan. 2025

Key Background Bitcoin is far from the only major asset to slide into correction territory, as fellow major tokens like ether, Binance coin, Solana and dogecoin have also endured more than 10% pullbacks from recent highs. —Derek Saul, Forbes, 13 Jan. 2025

The filing includes a discussion of the Trust's liquidity, noting that the Trust's only source of liquidity is its sales of ether. —Quartz Bot, Quartz, 7 Nov. 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