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ether

ether

4 8.3
A type of chemical where two groups of atoms are joined by one oxygen atom
  • noun
  • /ˈiːθər/
  • Specialized
: éter
  • Currently, methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) is the most commonly used oxygenate in blended gasoline.
  • methyl tert-butyl ether
  • diphenyl ether
  • tert-butyl ether

It was made with ether and rather fluffy big, looked like big footballs twisted on the end and only the rich people were doing it.

Examples

  • Ethanol and methyl tertiary-butyl ether, or MTBE, have been used as oxygenates of gasoline (i.e., as additives that increase oxygen content).

    Academic text (2006)

  • The polymer used as a thickener excipient was Natrosol (hydroxyethylcellulose), which is a cellulose ether derivative.

    Academic text (2018)

  • It's just that there's ether in the glue we use to attach the electrodes.

    Fiction book (1997)

  • The powder is then poured into a glass jar or plastic bottle, and ether obtained from four cans of starter fluid is added.

    Academic text (2006)

  • The estimation of the fat content of the samples was carried out in a Soxhlet apparatus using petroleum ether.

    Academic text (2014)

  • The acetone was extracted with cold petroleum ether, the phases separated by centrifugation, and the ether phase discarded.

    Academic text (1998)

  • First, you know that phenyl acetate is soluble in diethyl ether and that diethyl ether is insoluble in water.

  • But this past year, many states have begun phasing out the use of methyl tertiary butyl ether, or MTBE, a fuel additive intended to reduce smog-forming emissions.

    Academic text (2004)

  • In the laboratory, we used ether as a solvent to extract essential oils from the plant samples.

  • The chemist explained that ether is often used in reactions requiring a non-polar solvent.

Idioms

floating in ether
  • Informal
9.9

To feel light and detached from reality like being in a dream

Compounds

diethyl ether
  • Archaic
8.6

A clear, very flammable liquid once used to make people sleep during surgery and to dissolve chemicals

divinyl ether
  • Specialized
9.6

A colorless, very flammable liquid once used to make patients unconscious by breathing it

ethyl ether
  • Archaic
8.5

A clear liquid that catches fire easily and was used to make people sleep during surgery and to dissolve substances

vinyl ether
  • Archaic
9.6

A clear, very flammable liquid once breathed in to make people sleep for surgery

Surface Forms

ether singular
ethers plural

Etymology

Ether became the name for a class of chemicals because the first of them was a very light, fast-evaporating liquid that seemed like a fine 'spirit' in the air. Chemists kept the name ethers for these compounds, so the chemical term links back to the old idea of ether as something light and airy.