Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

ether

/ˈi.θɚ/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: 3.40 in modern English

Syllables
E-ther
IPA
/ˈi.θɚ/
8
Scrabble Score
5
Letters
2
Syllables
4
Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

The substance formerly supposed to fill the upper regions of the atmosphere above the clouds, in particular as a medium breathed by deities.

Countable; Literary; Uncountable

noun

The substance formerly supposed to fill the upper regions of the atmosphere above the clouds, in particular as a medium breathed by deities.

Countable; Literary; Uncountable

noun

The atmosphere or space as a medium for broadcasting radio and television signals; also, a notional space through which Internet and other digital communications take place; cyberspace.

Colloquial; Uncountable

noun

A particular quality created by or surrounding an object, person, or place; an atmosphere, an aura.

Colloquial; Uncountable

noun

Diethyl ether (C₄H₁₀O), an organic compound with a sweet odour used in the past as an anaesthetic.

Uncountable

noun

Starting fluid.

Uncountable

Example Sentences

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₂eydʰ-der. Proto-Hellenic *áitʰō Ancient Greek αἴθω (aíthō) ▲ Ancient Greek ᾱ̓ήρ (āḗr)influ.? Ancient Greek αἰθήρ (aithḗr)der. Latin aethērder. English ether From Middle English ēther (“the caelum aetherum of ancient cosmology in which the planets orbit; a shining, fluid substance described as a form of air or fire; air”), borrowed from Anglo-Norman ether and Middle French ether, ethere, aether, from Old French aether (“highest and purest part of the atmosphere; medium supposedly filling the upper regions of space”) (modern French éther), or directly from its etymon Latin aethēr (“highest and purest part of the atmosphere; air; heavens, sky; light of day; ethereal matter surrounding a deity”) (note also New Latin aethēr (“chemical compound analogous to diethyl ether”)), from Ancient Greek αἰθήρ (aithḗr, “purer upper air of the atmosphere; heaven, sky; theoretical medium supposed to fill unoccupied space and transmit heat and light”), from αἴθω (aíthō, “to burn, ignite; to blaze, shine”), from Proto-Indo-European *h₂eydʰ- (“to burn; fire”). The English word is cognate with Italian ether, ethera (both obsolete), etere, Middle Dutch ether (modern Dutch aether (obsolete), ether), German Äther, Ether, Portuguese éter, Spanish éter.

Origin

Word Breakdown

  • Root: ēther, ether, aether, aethēr, αἰθήρ, *h₂eydʰ-

Regional Pronunciation

  • American English: /ˈi.θɚ/
  • British English: /ˈiː.θə/

Usage

Inflected Forms

Derived Forms

Phrases

Frequently Paired Words

Synonyms

Homonyms

Rhymes With

Questions

How do you pronounce ether?
The recorded pronunciation is /ˈi.θɚ/.
What does ether mean?
The substance formerly supposed to fill the upper regions of the atmosphere above the clouds, in particular as a medium breathed by deities.
Where does ether come from?
It is traced to Middle English.

How to pronounce ether

  1. Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “ether”.
  2. Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ˈi.θɚ/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
  3. Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “ether”.
  4. Repeat and practice — Say “ether” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.