ash
/æʃ/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun:
- The powdery residue left after the burning of a substance: "ash" refers to the grey or black powdery substance that remains after something has been completely burned by fire.
- A type of tree (genus Fraxinus): "ash" also refers to any of various deciduous trees known for their strong, elastic wood and pinnate leaves.
Verb:
- To convert into ash: To burn something completely so that only its powdery residue remains.
Usage Examples
- Noun (residue):
- After the forest fire, only ash covered the ground.
- She tapped the ash from her cigarette into the tray.
- Noun (tree):
- The baseball bat was made of solid ash.
- We have a beautiful ash tree in our backyard.
- Verb:
- The volcanic eruption ashed the entire village. (This usage is less common and often technical.)
Advanced Usage
"Ashes" (plural noun): Often used to refer specifically to the remains after cremation or a great destruction.
- They scattered his ashes in the ocean, as he had wished.
- The city was reduced to ashes after the bombing.
"To turn to ash": To be completely destroyed or rendered worthless.
- All their hopes turned to ash when the deal fell through.
Variants and Related Words
- Ashen (adjective): Pale grey in colour, like ash; or consisting of ash.
- His face was ashen with fear.
- Ashy (adjective): Covered with or resembling ash; also used to describe dry, pale skin.
- The ashy soil was poor for farming.
- Ashcan (noun): A bin for ashes or rubbish. (A compound word listed separately as per instruction).
- Ash Wednesday (noun): The first day of Lent in the Christian calendar. (A compound phrase listed separately).
Synonyms
- Cinders: Partially burned combustible material, larger than ash.
- Embers: Small, glowing pieces of coal or wood in a dying fire.
- Soot: A black powdery substance consisting largely of amorphous carbon, produced by incomplete combustion.
Related Phrases
- "Ashes to ashes, dust to dust": A phrase from a Christian burial service, symbolizing the cycle of life and death, that humans return to the earth.
- "Rise from the ashes": To recover fully and successfully after a severe failure or destruction.
- The company managed to rise from the ashes of its bankruptcy.
Noun
- strong elastic wood of any of various ash trees; used for furniture and tool handles and sporting goods such as baseball bats
- any of various deciduous pinnate-leaved ornamental or timber trees of the genus Fraxinus
- the residue that remains when something is burned
Verb
- convert into ashes