ash 1  ( ăsh)
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n.1. The grayish-white to black powdery residue left when something is burned. 2. Geology Pulverized particulate matter ejected by volcanic eruption. 3. The mineral residue of incinerated organic matter, used as an additive in pet foods. 4. ashes Ruins: the ashes of a lost culture. 5. ashes Bodily remains, especially after cremation or decay. v. ashed, ash·ing, ash·es v.tr. To reduce or convert to ash: ash a tissue sample for analysis. v.intr. Informal To drop ashes from a cigar or cigarette: accidentally ashed on his own sleeve.
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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2018 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
ash 2  (ăsh)
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n. 1. Any of various chiefly deciduous trees of the genus Fraxinus, having opposite, pinnately compound leaves, clusters of small flowers, and one-seeded winged fruits. 2. The strong, elastic wood of any of these trees, used for furniture, tool handles, and sporting goods such as baseball bats. 3. Linguistics The letter æ in Old English and some modern phonetic alphabets, representing the vowel sound of Modern English ash.
[Middle English asshe, from Old English æsc.]  (click for a larger image) ash2white ash Fraxinus americana |
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2018 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
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