Definitions for: Ether


[n] a colorless volatile highly inflammable liquid used as an inhalation anesthetic
[n] a medium that was once supposed to fill all space and to support the propagation of electromagnetic waves
[n] (archaic) the fifth and highest element after air and earth and fire and water; was believed to be the substance composing all heavenly bodies



Webster (1913) Definition: E"ther, n. [L. aether, Gr. ?, fr. ? to light up, kindle,
burn, blaze; akin to Skr. idh, indh, and prob. to E. idle:
cf. F. ['e]ther.] [Written also [ae]ther.]
1. (Physics) A medium of great elasticity and extreme
tenuity, supposed to pervade all space, the interior of
solid bodies not excepted, and to be the medium of
transmission of light and heat; hence often called
luminiferous ether.



2. Supposed matter above the air; the air itself.

3. (Chem.)
(a) A light, volatile, mobile, inflammable liquid,
(C2H5)2O, of a characteristic aromatic odor,
obtained by the distillation of alcohol with sulphuric
acid, and hence called also sulphuric ether. It is
powerful solvent of fats, resins, and pyroxylin, but
finds its chief use as an an[ae]sthetic. Called also
ethyl oxide.


(b) Any similar oxide of hydrocarbon radicals; as, amyl
ether; valeric ether.

Complex ether, Mixed ether (Chem.), an oxide of two
different radicals in the same molecule; as, ethyl methyl
ether, C2H5.O.CH3.

Compound ether (Chem.), an ethereal salt or a salt of some
hydrocarbon as the base; an ester.

Ether engine (Mach.), a condensing engine like a steam
engine, but operated by the vapor of ether instead of by
steam.

Synonyms: aether, diethel ether, divinyl ether, ethoxyethane, ethyl ether, quintessence, vinyl ether

See Also: element, enflurane, Ethrane, inhalation anaesthetic, inhalation anesthetic, inhalation general anaesthetic, inhalation general anesthetic, medium

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