ash

Pluralashes

Formsashes, ashing, ashed

1. 1
   fire residuenouncountable or uncountable

   The gray powder left after something has burned.

   Like the soft gray dust left in a fireplace after the wood is gone.

   Gray ash covered the burned logs after the campfire went out.

   She swept the ash out of the fireplace each morning.

   UsageYou can say ash or ashes for what is left after a fire.

2. 2
   nouncountable or uncountableplural

   What is left of a dead body after it is burned.

   After the cremation, his ashes were placed in an urn on the mantel.

   She scattered a handful of ash from the urn into the sea.

   UsageSay his ashes, her ashes: we scattered her ashes.

   Similarremains

3. 3
   volcanic dustnouncountable or uncountable

   Tiny bits of rock and glass thrown into the air by an erupting volcano.

   Like a cloud of gritty gray dust blown out of the ground.

   Ash from the eruption drifted across the valley and coated every rooftop.

   Thick ash filled the sky and grounded flights for days.

4. 4
   nounfigurativelycountable or uncountable

   What is left behind after something is destroyed or completely ruined.

   Like new grass growing on bare ground after a fire.

   From the ashes of the failed company, a smaller business slowly took shape.

   All their plans turned to ash when the factory closed.

   UsageOften rise from the ashes, meaning come back after a disaster.

   Similarruins, wreckage, remains, remnants, rubble

   Note
5. 5
   treenouncountable or uncountable

   A tall tree with feathery leaves and strong, pale wood, or a similar tree with the same name.

   Like an oak or maple, it spreads wide branches that keep the ground cool.

   An old ash shaded the whole backyard through the summer.

   They planted an ash near the gate for the shade it would give.

   UsagePeople often say ash tree to be clear.

   Note
6. 6
   woodnoununcountable

   Strong, pale wood from the ash tree, used for tool handles and baseball bats.

   Like a young branch that bends in the wind instead of snapping.

   The baseball bat was carved from a single piece of ash.

   Because ash bends without breaking, it makes excellent tool handles.

   Similarashwood

7. 7
   graynouncountable or uncountable

   A pale gray color, like the dust left after a fire.

   Like the cool gray color of cold fireplace dust.

   She painted the bedroom walls a soft ash.

   His beard had faded to a dull ash over the years.

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