ether

noun \ˈē-thər\

: a liquid that burns easily, that is used to turn solid substances into liquid, and that was used in medicine in the past to prevent patients from feeling pain during operations

the ether : the air : the sky

Full Definition of ETHER

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

b : the upper regions of space : heavens

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

b : airwaves

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

— ethe·ric \i-ˈther-ik, -ˈthir-\ adjective

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Origin of ETHER

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

Other Chemical Engineering Terms

alkali, cation, decant, hygroscopic, isotope, oxidize, slurry, solute, viscous

ETHER Defined for Kids

ether

noun \ˈē-thər\

Definition of ETHER for Kids

: a light flammable liquid used to dissolve fats and especially in the past as an anesthetic

Medical Dictionary

ether

noun \ˈē-thər\

Medical Definition of ETHER

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

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