ash
Soft gray powder that is left when something like wood or paper burns completely.
The soft, gray or black powder that remains after something, such as wood, coal, or paper, has been completely burned.
The powder that is left from a dead person’s or animal’s body after it is burned in a cremation.
The powdered remains of a human or animal body after it has been burned in a cremation process, usually referred to in the plural as 'ashes'.
A kind of tall tree with many small leaflets on each leaf, called an ash tree.
A tall deciduous tree of the genus Fraxinus, with compound leaves and winged seeds, common in temperate regions.
The wood from an ash tree, used to make things like furniture, tools, and bats.
The pale, hard, and flexible wood from the ash tree, used as a material for making furniture, tools, and sports equipment.
A light gray color, like the color of ash from a fire, often used for hair color or paint.
A pale, slightly cool gray color resembling the color of burned ash, especially used in descriptions of hair and cosmetic or design colors.
To make the ash from a cigarette or cigar fall off, usually into an ashtray.
To drop or knock the ash from a cigarette, cigar, or similar burning object, often into an ashtray.
- Base: ash
- Plural: ash, ashes
- Base: ash
- 3rd Person Singular: ashes
- Present Participle: ashing
- Past: ashed
Ash Wednesday
1Christian holy day with ashes
The first day of Lent in the Christian church year, when some Christians go to church and receive a small cross of ash on their forehead.
- Many people attend church on Ash Wednesday to mark the beginning of Lent.
- On Ash Wednesday, the priest placed a cross of ash on each person’s forehead.
- She always gives up sweets for Lent starting on Ash Wednesday.
ashes to ashes, dust to dust
1traditional phrase at burials
A traditional phrase used at funerals that says the human body will return to the earth after death.
- The priest said, "Ashes to ashes, dust to dust" as the coffin was lowered.
- The words "ashes to ashes, dust to dust" are often heard in English-language funeral services.
- The phrase "ashes to ashes, dust to dust" reminds people that life is temporary.
reduce to ashes
1burn something completely
To burn something so completely that nothing is left except ash.
- The wildfire reduced the entire village to ashes.
- The old warehouse was reduced to ashes in less than an hour.
- The bomb reduced several buildings to ashes.
sift through the ashes
1search slowly through remains
To look very carefully through what is left after something is destroyed, in order to find objects or information.
- Investigators sifted through the ashes to find the cause of the fire.
- They spent days sifting through the ashes of the burned house for family photos.
- Journalists are still sifting through the ashes of the scandal.
the ash heap of history
1place for failed ideas in history
A way to talk about the past as a place where old, failed ideas or systems are left and forgotten.
- Some predicted that communism would end up on the ash heap of history.
- Many political slogans from the 1990s now lie on the ash heap of history.
- The agreement was quickly thrown onto the ash heap of history after the war began.
turn to ashes
1be destroyed until only ash remains
To be burned or destroyed so completely that only ash is left. Often used about buildings, forests, or hopes and plans.
- In minutes, the wooden hut had turned to ashes.
- Their dreams seemed to turn to ashes when the project was canceled.
- Fields that were green last year have turned to ashes after the fire.
scatter someone's ashes
1Throw cremated remains over a place
To throw a dead person's cremated remains into the air or over an area, usually in a place that was special to them.
- They scattered his ashes over the ocean, just as he had wished.
- They scattered his ashes at sea, just as he had asked.
- The family gathered to scatter her ashes in the mountains.
- The family gathered on the hill to scatter her ashes.
- He asked that they scatter his ashes in the garden.
- He wants his ashes to be scattered in the forest where he used to walk.
rise from the ashes
1Recover after destruction/failure
To become successful again after losing everything or failing badly.
- The company rose from the ashes after bankruptcy.
- After the fire, the town managed to rise from the ashes and rebuild.
- Like a phoenix, she rose from the ashes of her past mistakes.
- The company rose from the ashes after bankruptcy and became profitable again.
- Their relationship rose from the ashes after years of problems.
rise from the ashes
2Recover strongly after failure
To become successful or strong again after losing everything or having big problems.
- After years of decline, the club rose from the ashes to win the championship.
- The community rose from the ashes after the wildfire destroyed their homes.