ash

[æʃ]

ash Definition

  • 1the powdery residue left after the burning of a substance
  • 2the remains of something destroyed; ruins

Using ash: Examples

Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "ash" can be used in various situations through the following examples!

  • Example

    The fireplace was filled with ash.

  • Example

    The volcanic eruption left a layer of ash on the ground.

  • Example

    The city was reduced to ash after the bombing.

ash Synonyms and Antonyms

Synonyms for ash

Phrases with ash

  • ashes to ashes, dust to dust

    a phrase used in funeral services to remind mourners of the inevitability of death and the return of the body to the earth

    Example

    As the coffin was lowered into the ground, the priest recited 'ashes to ashes, dust to dust.'

  • rake over the ashes

    to revisit or bring up old issues or problems that have already been resolved

    Example

    I thought we had moved past our argument, but he keeps raking over the ashes.

  • an expression used to convey the idea that unlikely events are unlikely to happen again in the same way

    Example

    I'm not worried about getting into a car accident again. Lightning never strikes twice in the same place.

Origins of ash

from Old English 'æsce'

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Summary: ash in Brief

'Ash' [æʃ] refers to the powdery residue left after the burning of a substance, or the remains of something destroyed. It is often associated with fireplaces and volcanic eruptions, as in 'The fireplace was filled with ash' and 'The volcanic eruption left a layer of ash on the ground.' The phrase 'ashes to ashes, dust to dust' is used in funeral services to remind mourners of the inevitability of death. 'Rake over the ashes' means to revisit old issues, while 'lightning never strikes twice in the same place' suggests that unlikely events are unlikely to happen again in the same way.

How do native speakers use this expression?