ash

plural ashes

1. countableuncountableThe solid remains of a fire.

   Ash from the fire floated over the street.

   4 more examples

   The audience was more captivated by the growing ash at the end of his cigarette than by his words.

   Ash from a fireplace can restore minerals to your garden's soil.

   Ashes from the fire floated over the street.

   The family collected the ashes after burning the body.

2. countableuncountablechemistryThe nonaqueous remains of a material subjected to any complete oxidation process.
3. countableuncountableFine particles from a volcano, volcanic ash.
4. countablein pluraluncountableHuman (or animal) remains after cremation.

   The urn containing his ashes was eventually removed to a closet.

5. archaiccountablein pluraluncountableMortal remains in general.

   Napoleon’s ashes are not yet extinguished, and we’re breathing in their sparks.

   Synonyms: cremains

6. countablefigurativelyuncountableThe aftermath or remains of a catastrophe.

   Now, it's Haiti that needs help to rebuild and rise from the ashes [of an earthquake].

   2010 May 6, Jean-Claude Laguerre, “Haiti Will Rise From the Ashes”, in The Epoch Times

7. countableuncountableA gray color, similar to that of the remains of a fire.
8. countableuncountablecellular automataThe resultant remaining more stable patterns that emerge from the evolution of a soup or a similarly random pattern.

present singular third person ashes · participle present ashing · participle past ashed · past ashed

1. ambitransitivechemistryTo reduce to a residue of ash. See ashing.

   The inorganic material left after ashing lung tissue specimens not only contains inhaled particles but also very large quantities of inorganic residue derived from the tissue itself.

   1981, Hans Weill, Margaret Turner-Warwick, and Claude Lenfant, eds, Occupational Lung Diseases: Research Approaches and Methods, Lung Biology in Health and disease, volume 18, page 203

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   I dried the extracted leather very slowly on the steam bath […] until the substance was dry enough to ash. […] I think that the discrepancy in the percentages of "total ash" by method No. 2 and No. 6 is due to this excessive heat required to ash the leather […]

   1919, Harry Gordon, Total Soluble and Insoluble Ash in Leather, published in the Journal of the American Leather Chemists Association, W. K. Alsop and W. A. Fox, eds, volume XIV, number 1, on page 253

   Ash and silica contents of the plant material were determined by classical gravimetric techniques. Tissue samples were ashed in platinum crucibles at about 500 °C, and the ash was treated repeatedly with 6 N hydrochloric acid to remove other mineral impurities.

   1989?, Annals of Botany, volume 64, issues 4-6, page 397

   A 10-g food sample was dried, then ashed, and analyzed for salt (NaCl) content by the Mohr titration method (AgNO₃ + Cl → AgCl). The weight of the dried sample was 2g, and the ashed sample weight was 0.5g.

   2010, S. Suzanne Nielsen, ed, Food Analysis, fourth edition, Chapter 12, "Traditional Methods for Mineral Analysis", page 213

2. AustraliaambitransitiveTo hit the end off (a burning cigar or cigarette).

   "Nonsense," Mrs. Gardiner challenged, ashing her cigarette.

   1936, F.J. Thwaites, The Redemption, Sydney: H. John Edwards Publishing, published 1940, page 62

   3 more examples

   He realized that he was standing staring at her and he sat down quickly, making a business of ashing his cigarette.

   1961, Kenneth Cook, Wake in Fright, published 1988, page ii. 52

   Hamilton ashed his cigar, and studied the end of it for some moments without speaking.

   1978, C.J. Koch, The Year of Living Dangerously, published 1986, page 35

   ‘He’s right, you know,’ said Archie earnestly, ashing a fag in an empty curry bowl.

   2000, Zadie Smith, White Teeth, London: Penguin Books, published 2001, →ISBN, page 242

3. transitivechiefly passive voiceChristianityTo mark (someone) with an ashen cross on the forehead to observe Ash Wednesday.
4. obsoletechiefly passive voiceTo cover newly-sown fields of crops with ashes.

   After the corn was planted, upon acre A, I spread broadcast one hundred bushels of lime, (cost $3) and fifty bushels of ashes, (cost $6.) […] The extra crop of the combination over the limed acre or ashed, was paid by the increased crop, […]

   1849, in a letter to James Higgins, published in 1850 in The American Farmer, volume V, number 7, pages 227-8

   1 more example

   Last spring, after I planted, I took what ashes I have saved during the last year, and put on my corn […] . On harvesting I cut up the two rows which were not ashed (or twenty rods of them,) and set them apart from the others in stouts; and then I cut up two rows of the same length, on each side, which had been ashed, […]

   1847, H., Ashes on Corn.---An Experiment, published in the Genesee Farmer, volume 8, page 281

plural ashes

1. countableuncountableA shade tree of the genus Fraxinus.

   The ash trees are dying off due to emerald ash borer.

   1 more example

   The woods planted in ash will see a different mix of species.

   Synonyms: ash tree

2. countableuncountableAny tree of certain species of other genera.
3. uncountableThe wood of this tree.

   English soldiers handled sturdy bows of yew, ash, or elm, which could propel an iron-tipped arrow as far as a hundred yards.

   1999, Robert Lacey, Danny Danziger, The Year 1000: What life was like at the turn of The First Millennium, London: Abacus, published 2000, page 155

4. countableuncountableA name for the ae ligature (æ), as used in Old English.

1. alternativeuncountableAlternative form of aush.

1. Internetabbreviationnot comparableAbbreviation of as hell or as heck.

   Synonyms: asf, asl

2. abbreviationinitialismnot comparableInitialism of alt.suicide.holiday.

   It is advisable that you use the same nick as on ash (or your first name).

   1993 June 19, Larry Mulcahy, quoting Bibo, “Alt.suicide.holiday MUD”, in alt.tasteless (Usenet)

   2 more examples

   I'll admit that I started out merely harassing ash regulars for glorifying death and posting a bunch of maudlin gothic tripe, […]

   2000 April 24, Celeste, “alt.suicide.holiday”, in rec.gardens.roses (Usenet)

   Since you obviously find fa[u]lt with ash, could you perhaps keep your opinions to YOUR newsgroup of choice?

   2001 June 20, Kit, “alc.suicide -=VS=- alt.suicide.holiday”, in alc.suicide (Usenet)

plural Ashes

1. Egyptiancountableuncountablehuman sciencesThe Egyptian god of oases.
2. countableuncountableOisc, also spelled Æsc or Ash, an Anglo-Saxon king of Kent
3. countableuncountableA topographic surname from Middle English for someone who lived near ash trees.
4. countableuncountableA unisex given name transferred from the surname.

   Aberdeen have confirmed, external Ash Taylor and Lawrence Shankland will follow Ryan Jack, Niall McGinn and Peter Pawlett in leaving the club this summer.

   2017 May 31, “Aberdeen: Ash Taylor & Lawrence Shankland join players leaving Pittodrie”, in BBC Sport, archived from the original on 24 May 2021, retrieved 02 Sep 2026

5. countableuncountableA diminutive of the unisex given names Ashley and Ashleigh.
6. countableuncountableA diminutive of the female given names Ashlie, Ashlee, Ashly, and Ashanti.
7. A place name:
   1. countableuncountableA civil parish in South Derbyshire district, Derbyshire.
   2. countableuncountableA hamlet in Stoke Fleming parish, South Hams district, Devon (OS grid ref SX8349).
   3. countableuncountableA hamlet in Stourpaine parish, Dorset (OS grid ref ST8610).
   4. countableuncountableA village and civil parish in Dover district, Kent (OS grid ref TR2858).
   5. countableuncountableA small village in Ash-cum-Ridley parish, Sevenoaks district, Kent (OS grid ref TQ6064).
   6. countableuncountableA village and civil parish in Somerset, previously in South Somerset district (OS grid ref ST4720).
   7. countableuncountableA hamlet in Thornfalcon parish, Somerset, previously in Somerset West and Taunton district (OS grid ref ST2822).
   8. countableuncountableA town and civil parish in Guildford borough, Surrey, near Aldershot (OS grid ref SU8950).
   9. countableuncountableA township in Monroe County, Michigan.
   10. countableuncountableA township in Barry County, Missouri.
   11. countableuncountableAn unincorporated community in Monroe County, Missouri.
   12. countableuncountableAn unincorporated community in Brunswick County, North Carolina.
   13. countableuncountableAn unincorporated community in Douglas County, Oregon.
   14. countableuncountableAn unincorporated community in Houston County, Texas.
   15. countableuncountableAn unincorporated community in Mason County, West Virginia.

alternative ash

1. abbreviationinitialismInitialism of alt.suicide.holiday.

   […] I have never seen *alt.support.suicide* until a few weeks ago, and wanted to ask: been around as long as ASH?

   2005 January 25, <concider...@hotmail.com>, “how long has this group been around?”, in alt.support.suicide (Usenet)

   2 more examples

   Who are "they"?? I will tell you. The FAQ you speak of (in fact any post you speak of on any newsgroup you speak of), is the product of whomever^([sic]) wrote and posted it. Nothing more, nothing less. You post on ASH too. That means to me, YOU are "they".

   2000 May 2, Stewart/sna, “alt.suicide.holiday”, in alt.support.depression.manic (Usenet)

   I looked back to my posts on ASH some months ago and can't find any fault with them. I have been on a number of meds in the past and wasn't always carefull^([sic]) in how I read things or reacted to them.

   2001 June 21, LadyHawke, “alc.suicide -=VS=- alt.suicide.holiday”, in alc.suicide (Usenet)