cinder

noun

cin·​der ˈsin-dər 

1

: the slag from a metal furnace : dross

2

a

cinders plural : ashes

b

: a fragment of ash

3

a

: a partly burned combustible in which fire is extinct

b

: a hot coal without flame

c

: a partly burned coal capable of further burning without flame

4

: a fragment of lava from an erupting volcano

cindery

ˈsin-d(ə-)rē 

adjective

Examples of cinder in a Sentence

Cinders from the campfire floated through the air.

Recent Examples on the Web

The death toll is currently at 25, and more than 12,000 structures across the county have been reduced to cinders. —Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 17 Jan. 2025

The human toll will grow in the next few days and thousands of homes are and will be destroyed before the last cinder is snuffed out. —Jerry Shnay, Chicago Tribune, 13 Jan. 2025

Residents of a storied Los Angeles neighborhood devastated by raging wildfires returned home briefly Thursday to find much of their houses and possessions in cinders. —Isaiah Murtaugh, USA TODAY, 10 Jan. 2025

Block starts have been at the Olympics since London in 1948 (athletes previously used to dig holes in the cinder track to start). —Liam Tharme, The Athletic, 3 Aug. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English sinder, from Old English; akin to Old High German sintar dross, slag, Serbian & Croatian sedra calcium carbonate

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing cinder

• burn to a cinder
• cinder block
• cinder cone

Kids Definition

cinder

noun

cin·​der ˈsin-dər 

1

: slag

2

a

: a piece of partly burned coal or wood

b

: a hot coal without flame

3

: a piece of lava from an erupting volcano

cindery

-d(ə-)rē 

adjective