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
Examples of ether in a Sentence
The balloon disappeared into the ether.
Recent Examples on the Web
That chemical is a member of the polybrominated diphenyl ethers, or PBDE, class of flame retardants.
—
Sandee Lamotte, CNN Money, 5 June 2025
Nevertheless, Wells’ failure inspired his former partner, Thomas Green Morton, to continue experimenting with anesthetics, this time using ether instead of nitrous oxide.
—Ella Jeffries, Smithsonian Magazine, 8 Apr. 2025
Editor Indya Brown ethers into sporty territory at times too.
—Robyn Mowatt, Essence, 14 May 2025
For those unfamiliar, digital twins in the healthcare context are essentially intricate facsimiles of people in the digital ether, constructed from medical records, biometric signals, genomic data and behavioral patterns.
—Mika Newton, Forbes.com, 13 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for ether
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Sandee Lamotte, CNN Money, 5 June 2025
Nevertheless, Wells’ failure inspired his former partner, Thomas Green Morton, to continue experimenting with anesthetics, this time using ether instead of nitrous oxide.
—Ella Jeffries, Smithsonian Magazine, 8 Apr. 2025
Editor Indya Brown ethers into sporty territory at times too.
—Robyn Mowatt, Essence, 14 May 2025
For those unfamiliar, digital twins in the healthcare context are essentially intricate facsimiles of people in the digital ether, constructed from medical records, biometric signals, genomic data and behavioral patterns.
—Mika Newton, Forbes.com, 13 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for ether
Cite this Entry
“Ether.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ether. Accessed 13 Jun. 2025.
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Medical Definition
ether
noun1
: 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
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