ambergris

Everyday

Ambergris is a waxy, grey substance made in the gut of sperm whales; it is sometimes found floating in the sea or washed up on beaches and was used in perfumes. tree →

In the lessons

In science and nature stories it is a strange and valuable natural material. In history it was traded like treasure. Phrases: a lump of ambergris.

Examples

• Ambergris comes from sperm whales. tree →
• People who find ambergris on the beach can sometimes sell it for lots of money. tree →
• Ambergris was used in perfume to make the smell last. tree →
• It has a sweet, earthy smell when old. tree →
• Most perfumes now use man-made substitutes for ambergris. tree →
• A lump of ambergris washed up on the shore. tree →
• I found myself in a large, vaulted room, lighted by tapers, scented with aloes and ambergris, standing in golden candle-sticks, whilst gold and silver lamps hung from the ceiling. tree →

Note

Uncountable. Said AM-ber-grees. Not the same as amber (fossil tree resin). In some countries trading ambergris is restricted to protect whales.