English noun: ether | |||
1. | ether (substance) the fifth and highest element after air and earth and fire and water; was believed to be the substance composing all heavenly bodies | ||
Synonyms | quintessence | ||
Broader (hypernym) | element | ||
Domain usage | archaicism, archaism | ||
2. | ether (substance) any of a class of organic compounds that have two hydrocarbon groups linked by an oxygen atom | ||
Broader (hypernym) | organic compound | ||
3. | ether (communication) a medium that was once supposed to fill all space and to support the propagation of electromagnetic waves | ||
Synonyms | aether | ||
Broader (hypernym) | medium | ||
4. | ether (artifact) a colorless volatile highly inflammable liquid formerly used as an inhalation anesthetic | ||
Synonyms | diethyl ether, divinyl ether, ethoxyethane, ethyl ether, vinyl ether | ||
Broader (hypernym) | inhalation anaesthetic, inhalation anesthetic, inhalation general anaesthetic, inhalation general anesthetic | ||
Narrower (hyponym) | enflurane, Ethrane | ||