Amber is a hard yellowish-brown substance used for making jewellery.
...an amber choker with matching earrings.
...a Victorian cigar holder of amber and sterling silver.
2. colour
Amber is used to describe things that are yellowish-brown in colour.
A burst of sunshine sent a beam of amber light through the window.
He shook the amber bottle vigorously.
3. colour
An amber traffic light is orange.
Cars did not stop when the lights were on amber.
amber in British English
(ˈæmbə)
noun
1.
a.
a yellow or yellowish-brown hard translucent fossil resin derived from extinct coniferous trees that occurs in Tertiary deposits and often contains trapped insects. It is used for jewellery, ornaments, etc
b.
(as modifier)
an amber necklace
▶ Related adjective: succinic
2. fly in amber
3.
a.
a medium to dark brownish-yellow colour, often somewhat orange, similar to that of the resin
b.
(as adjective)
an amber dress
4.
an amber traffic light used as a warning between red and green
Word origin
C14: from Medieval Latin ambar, from Arabic `anbar ambergris
amber in American English
(ˈæmbər)
noun
1.
a yellow or brownish-yellow translucent fossil resin found as along seacoasts andused in jewelry, pipestems, etc.: it is hard, easily polished, and quickly charged with static electricity when rubbed
2.
the color of amber
adjective
3.
like or made of amber
4.
having the color of amber
Word origin
ME aumbre, amber, ambergris < OFr ambre < Ar ʼanbar, ambergris
amber in American English
(ˈæmbər)
noun
1.
a pale yellow, sometimes reddish or brownish, fossil resin of vegetable origin, translucent, brittle, and capable of gaining a negative electrical charge by friction and of being an excellent insulator: used for making jewelry and other ornamental articles
2.
the yellowish-brown color of resin
adjective
3.
of the color of amber; yellowish-brown
amber fields of grain
4.
made of amber
amber earrings
Derived forms
amberlike or ambery or amberous
adjective
Word origin
[1350–1400; ME ambre ‹ OF ‹ ML ambra ‹ Ar ʻanbar ambergris; confusion of the dissimilar substances perh. because both were rare, valuable,and found on seacoasts]