noun
ash
ASH/æʃ/
Powdery residue remaining after burning.
Fine ash settles around the fireplace after the last log burns.
Etymology
Old English æsce already named the residue of fire. This sense of what remains after burning also underlies the use of ashes for cremated human remains.
In context
It uses an energy-intensive process to turn bodies into ash, polluting the air and contributing to climate change.
More examples
- Volcanic ash covered the parked cars.
- The family scattered his ashes beside the lake.
- She chose a sweater in a soft ash gray.
Forms
ash · ashes