ash
noun (ash, ashes; an ash tree, ash trees)
Everyday
- The grey powder left after something has burned. tree →
- Ashes can also mean what is left of a person's body after it is burned at a funeral. tree →
- Volcanic ash is fine rock dust thrown out by a volcano. tree →
- An ash is a kind of tree with grey bark. tree →
In the lessons
In science, burning changes materials for ever and leaves ash behind — an irreversible change. In geography, volcanoes spread ash over wide areas. In fire safety, campfire ashes can stay hot for hours, so put them out with water. Phrases: wood ash, volcanic ash, ash tree, ashes to ashes, cigarette ash.
Examples
- Only ash was left after the campfire. tree →
- Pour water on the ashes before you leave. tree →
- The volcano covered the town in ash. tree →
- We planted an ash tree in the park. tree →
- Burning paper is an irreversible change: you can't get the paper back from the ash. tree →
- Grandad's ashes were scattered at sea. tree →
- Soon he reached the heap of cold ashes. tree →
Note
Uncountable for the powder ("some ash"), plural "ashes" for what is left of a fire or a body. Countable for trees: an ash, ashes. Use "an": an ash tree. Safety: ashes can hide hot embers; never touch them.
In Jewish tradition
In the Torah ashes are what is left of burnt offerings, which the priest cleared from the altar and carried to a clean place outside the camp. Abraham's "dust and ashes" is a picture of being small. In the Writings ashes are also a picture of frost scattered like ash, and of things that are worthless and weak.
Interpretation. Taking out the ashes was a daily task of the priests. Abraham's words, and Job's "dust and ashes", are read as models of humility before God.
Examples
- And they shall take away the ashes from the altar, and spread a purple cloth thereon. (Torah NUM.4.13, JPS 1917) tree →
- And Abraham answered and said: 'Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord, who am but dust and ashes. (Torah GEN.18.27, JPS 1917) tree →
- And he shall put off his garments, and put on other garments, and carry forth the ashes without the camp unto a clean place. (Torah LEV.6.11, JPS 1917) tree →
- He giveth snow like wool; He scattereth the hoar-frost like ashes. (Writings PSA.147.16, JPS 1917) tree →
- Your memorials shall be like unto ashes, your eminences to eminences of clay. (Writings JOB.13.12, JPS 1917) tree →
- Wherefore I abhor my words, and repent, seeing I am dust and ashes. (Writings JOB.42.6, JPS 1917) tree →
Note
Uncountable for the powder ("some ash"), plural "ashes" for what is left of a fire or a body. Countable for trees: an ash, ashes. Use "an": an ash tree. Safety: ashes can hide hot embers; never touch them.
On Mova
- Trees and pragmatics of «ash» in the school dictionary: every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- «ash» in the school dictionary on Mova free.
- Trees and pragmatics of «ash» in the Judaism dictionary: every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- «ash» in the Judaism dictionary on Mova free.
This page in Markdown → https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/ash/