Printer Friendly
Dictionary, Encyclopedia and Thesaurus - The Free Dictionary
3,903,152,359 visitors served.
forum Join the Word of the Day Mailing List For webmasters
?
Dictionary/
thesaurus
Medical
dictionary
Legal
dictionary
Financial
dictionary
Acronyms
 
Idioms
Encyclopedia
Wikipedia
encyclopedia
?

ether
(redirected from Ethers, cyclic)

   Also found in: Medical, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia 0.01 sec.
e·ther  (thr)
n.
1. Any of a class of organic compounds in which two hydrocarbon groups are linked by an oxygen atom.
2. A volatile, highly flammable liquid, C2H5OC2H5, derived from the distillation of ethyl alcohol with sulfuric acid and used as a reagent and solvent. It was formerly used as an anesthetic. Also called diethyl ether, ethyl ether.
3. The regions of space beyond the earth's atmosphere; the heavens.
4. The element believed in ancient and medieval civilizations to fill all space above the sphere of the moon and to compose the stars and planets.
5. Physics An all-pervading, infinitely elastic, massless medium formerly postulated as the medium of propagation of electromagnetic waves.

[Middle English, upper air, from Latin aethr, from Greek aithr.]

e·theric (-thrk, -thîr-) adj.

ether [ˈiːθə]
n
1. (Chemistry / Elements & Compounds) Also called diethyl ether ethyl ether ethoxyethane a colourless volatile highly flammable liquid with a characteristic sweetish odour, made by the reaction of sulphuric acid with ethanol: used as a solvent and anaesthetic. Formula: C2H5OC2H5
2. (Chemistry / Elements & Compounds) any of a class of organic compounds with the general formula ROR′ where R and R′ are alkyl groups, as in diethyl ether C2H5OC2H5
(Physics / General Physics)
the ether the hypothetical medium formerly believed to fill all space and to support the propagation of electromagnetic waves
4. (Myth & Legend / Classical Myth & Legend) Greek myth the upper regions of the atmosphere; clear sky or heaven
5. a rare word for air Also (for senses 3-5) aether
[from Latin aether, from Greek aithēr, from aithein to burn]
etheric  [iːˈθɛrɪk] adj

ether  (thr)
1. An organic compound in which two hydrocarbon groups are linked by an oxygen atom, having the general structure ROR, where R and R are the two hydrocarbon groups. At room temperature, ethers are pleasant-smelling liquids resembling alcohols but less dense and less soluble in water. Ethers are part of many naturally occurring organic compounds, such as starches and sugars, and are widely used in industry and in making pharmaceuticals.
2. A colorless, flammable liquid used as a solvent and formerly used as an anesthetic. Ether consists of two ethyl groups joined by an oxygen atom. Also called diethyl ether, ethyl ether. Chemical formula: C4H10O.
3. A hypothetical medium formerly believed to permeate all space, and through which light and other electromagnetic radiation were thought to move. The existence of ether was disproved by the American physicists Albert Michelson and Edward Morley in 1887.
ThesaurusLegend:  Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
Noun1.ether - the fifth and highest element after air and earth and fire and water; was believed to be the substance composing all heavenly bodies
archaicism, archaism - the use of an archaic expression
element - one of four substances thought in ancient and medieval cosmology to constitute the physical universe; "the alchemists believed that there were four elements"
2.ether - any of a class of organic compounds that have two hydrocarbon groups linked by an oxygen atom
organic compound - any compound of carbon and another element or a radical
3.ether - a medium that was once supposed to fill all space and to support the propagation of electromagnetic wavesether - a medium that was once supposed to fill all space and to support the propagation of electromagnetic waves
medium - an intervening substance through which signals can travel as a means for communication
4.ether - a colorless volatile highly inflammable liquid formerly used as an inhalation anesthetic
enflurane, Ethrane - a nonflammable liquid (trade name Ethrane) used as an inhalation general anesthetic
Translations
ether [ˈiːθəʳ] N (Chem) → éter m

ether [ˈiːθər] néther m

ether
n (Chem, poet) → Äther m

ether [ˈiːθəʳ] netere m

ether
n ether [ˈiːθə]
a colourless liquid used to dissolve fats etc, and, medically, as an anaesthetic. eter الأثير етер éter æter der Äther αιθέρας éter eeter اتر eetteri éther אֶתֶר रंग रहित द्रव eter éter eter eter etere エーテル 에테르 eteris ēteris cecair eter ether eter eter éter eter эфир éter eter etar eter สารอีเธอร์ eter, lokman ruhu 乙醚, 以太 ефір ایک بے رنگ آتشگیر نامیاتی سیال جو بے ہوشی یا بے حسی پیدا کرنے یا محلل کے طور پر استعمال ہوتا ہے ête 醚,


Want to thank TFD for its existence? Tell a friend about us, add a link to this page, add the site to iGoogle, or visit the webmaster's page for free fun content.
?Page tools
Printer friendly
Cite / link
Feedback
Add definition
Mentioned in?  References in periodicals archive?   Dictionary browser?   Full browser?
 
Solvents include aliphatic and chlorinated hydrocarbons, esters, ketones, alcohols, gylcols, glycol ethers, cyclic or aromatic hydrocarbons, fluorocarbons and nitroparaffins.
 
 
 
Dictionary, Thesaurus, and Translations
?

Terms of Use | Privacy policy | Feedback | Advertise with Us | Copyright © 2012 Farlex, Inc.
Disclaimer
All content on this website, including dictionary, thesaurus, literature, geography, and other reference data is for informational purposes only. This information should not be considered complete, up to date, and is not intended to be used in place of a visit, consultation, or advice of a legal, medical, or any other professional.