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
- dust
- cinders
- soot
Phrases with ash
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.'
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'
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.