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ether Definition

ether (ē′t̸hər)

noun

  1. a substance hypothesized by the ancients as filling all space beyond the sphere of the moon, and making up the stars and planets
  2. the upper regions of space; clear sky
  3. Rare the air
  4. Chem. any of a series of organic compounds having an oxygen atom linking two carbon atoms from two hydrocarbon radicals, generally ROR; esp., ethyl ether, a volatile, colorless, highly flammable liquid, HCOCH, prepared by the reaction of sulfuric acid and ethyl alcohol and used as an anesthetic and a solvent for resins and fats
  5. Physics a hypothetical diffuse, invisible medium formerly thought to pervade space and transmit light, heat, etc.

Etymology: ME < L aether < Gr aithēr < aithein, to kindle, burn < IE base *aidh- > L aestas, summer, OE ætan, to burn

ether Related Forms
etheric (i t̸her′ik, -t̸hir′-) adjective
ether Telecom Definition
Luminiferous ether. The omnipresent passive medium once thought to pervade all space and to support the propagation of electromagnetic energy, even through a vacuum.The existence of the ether was disproved around 1900 by a number of scientists, including Albert Einstein, Albert A. Michaelson, and Edward W. Morley. In 1973, Robert Metcalfe chose the name Ethernet to describe the local area network (LAN) technology he and his associates invented at the Xerox Palo Alto Research Center (Xerox PARC). See also Ethernet; LAN; Metcalfe, Robert M.; and Xerox PARC.
ether Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • methylate: Supplementary provisions relating to methylated spirits and methylated ether 13.
  • call: Where glider means a periodic structure moving through time on a periodic background called ether by Cook.
  • use: The ether used may be the ordinary rectified ether, which always contains a portion of alcohol.

Adjective modifier

  • polybrominated: Those retardants banned are PBB ( polybrominated biphenyls ) and PBDE ( polybrominated diphenyl ethers ), both of which are used in thermoplastics.
  • luminiferous: At the time, the standard belief of physicists had been that light was a wave motion carried by the luminiferous ether.
  • sulphuric: Perhaps the use of ' sulphuric ether ' for renal or biliary colic was recognized earlier than 1842.
  • tertiary: Allowing ETBE to qualify for the federal tax subsidies reduces the growth of MTBE ( methyl tertiary butyl ether ), its main competitor.
  • cyclic: A prime example is provided by sugars, which can be represented as straight-chain molecules or as cyclic ethers.
  • electronic: Another batch of applications wing their way over the electronic ether.

Modifies a noun

  • anesthesia: Most anesthetists in the western world today have never given ether anesthesia.
  • vapor: When immersed in hot water it emitted warm pure ether vapor via a graduated needle valve.
  • oxygen: If you want an ether oxygen Probe use Type 28 instead.
  • extract: A crude ether extract failed to elicit a response ( Fujisawa et al.
  • side: The Council decided to offer the land to him on a yearly tenancy at the same rent with six months notice on ether side.

Noun used with modifier

  • diethyl: The commonest ether diethyl ether is usually simply called ether.
  • diphenyl: Penta bromo diphenyl ether used as flame retardant in upholstery etc. , like PCBs interferes with thyroxin metabolism.
  • butyl: Allowing ETBE to qualify for the federal tax subsidies reduces the growth of MTBE ( methyl tertiary butyl ether ), its main competitor.
  • diglycidyl: Opinion on bisphenol A diglycidyl ether ( BADGE ).
  • dimethyl: For example, the JPO service translates " dimethyl ether " as " wood ether " .
  • glycol: Glycol ethers are widely used in products such as coatings, inks and adhesives.