ember

noun

em·​ber ˈem-bər 

1

: a glowing fragment (as of coal) from a fire

especially : one smoldering in ashes

2

embers plural : the smoldering remains of a fire

3

embers plural : slowly dying or fading emotions, memories, ideas, or responses still capable of being revived

the embers of his past

Examples of ember in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The general approach is reducing combustibility with fire-resistant materials, sealing property to prevent intrusion by embers, clearing vegetation to create buffer zones between the forest and buildings, and implementing early warning systems. —Louis Gritzo, Forbes, 3 Oct. 2024

But despite the crews' monitoring for several hours, embers from the fire remained undetected and were rekindled, according to Ventura. —Thao Nguyen, USA TODAY, 3 Oct. 2024

As the restaurant’s name suggests, nearly everything on the menu has spent some time over that fire, kissed with a rustic char as it’s pulled from the embers. —Rachel Bernhard, Journal Sentinel, 20 Sep. 2024

The spark guard keeps embers from flying out of the fire bowl while still allowing a clear view of the flames. —Bestreviews, The Mercury News, 16 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English eymere, from Old Norse eimyrja; akin to Old English ǣmerge ashes, Latin urere to burn

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing ember

• ember day

Kids Definition

ember

noun

em·​ber ˈem-bər 

: a glowing piece of coal or wood from a fire

especially : such a piece smoldering in ashes