ember

/ˈɛm.bɚ/

UK: /ˈɛm.bə/

ƐM · bɚ (2 syllables)

English Noun Top 28,605

Definition

A piece of coal or wood glowing by heat; a hot coal.

Etymology

From Middle English embre, eymbre, aymer, eymere, emeri, from Old English ǣmyrġe, from Proto-West Germanic *aimuʀjā, from Proto-Germanic *aimuzjǭ, a compound of *aimaz + *uzjǭ. The latter is from Proto-Indo-European *h₁ews- (“to burn”). The b is intrusive and was added in English for ease of pronunciation when the vowel of the second syllable (y) disappeared. See also Old High German eimuria (“pyre”), Danish emmer, Swedish mörja (“embers”).