ember
noun
em·ber ˈem-bər 
1
: a glowing fragment (as of coal) from a fire
especially : one smoldering in ashes
2
embers plural : the smoldering remains of a fire
3
embers plural : slowly dying or fading emotions, memories, ideas, or responses still capable of being revived
the embers of his past
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web Its jack-o’-lantern head lights up and turns from side to side in search of some ripe souls to roast over an ember—and eventually eat up. 
Kevin Cortez, Popular Mechanics, 15 Sep. 2022 An errant ember could cause permanent eye damage or even blindness. Rebekah L. Sanders, The Arizona Republic, 2 July 2022 Title IX emerged as an ember from the civil rights and women’s liberation movements. New York Times, 23 June 2022 One never knows which ember will land in the right spot to set it all ablaze. Joseph C. Sternberg, WSJ, 7 Oct. 2021 At night, like nearly every night, Tatmadaw snipers took aim at whatever caught their attention: the glow from a cellphone whose user was checking Facebook, perhaps, or the red ember of a cannabis joint. New York Times, 30 Mar. 2022 Yanya has a singular voice—a disarming rasp that turns every note into a smoldering ember—and her restless pop-rock songs circle her feelings of emptiness and inadequacy. Sheldon Pearce, The New Yorker, 8 Mar. 2022 Yosemite put an end to the blazing ember show in 1968. Los Angeles Times, 18 Feb. 2022 To help kick the new year off on a fragrant note, Febreze has announced ember as its scent of the year. Danielle Harling, House Beautiful, 20 Feb. 2022 See More
Kevin Cortez, Popular Mechanics, 15 Sep. 2022 An errant ember could cause permanent eye damage or even blindness. Rebekah L. Sanders, The Arizona Republic, 2 July 2022 Title IX emerged as an ember from the civil rights and women’s liberation movements. New York Times, 23 June 2022 One never knows which ember will land in the right spot to set it all ablaze. Joseph C. Sternberg, WSJ, 7 Oct. 2021 At night, like nearly every night, Tatmadaw snipers took aim at whatever caught their attention: the glow from a cellphone whose user was checking Facebook, perhaps, or the red ember of a cannabis joint. New York Times, 30 Mar. 2022 Yanya has a singular voice—a disarming rasp that turns every note into a smoldering ember—and her restless pop-rock songs circle her feelings of emptiness and inadequacy. Sheldon Pearce, The New Yorker, 8 Mar. 2022 Yosemite put an end to the blazing ember show in 1968. Los Angeles Times, 18 Feb. 2022 To help kick the new year off on a fragrant note, Febreze has announced ember as its scent of the year. Danielle Harling, House Beautiful, 20 Feb. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Middle English eymere, from Old Norse eimyrja; akin to Old English ǣmerge ashes, Latin urere to burn
First Known Use
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Phrases Containing ember
Kids Definition
ember
noun
em·ber ˈem-bər
: a glowing piece of coal or wood in the ashes from a fire