1. plural of ether; organic chemical compounds in which two hydrocarbon groups are linked by an oxygen atom
Usage: chemistry
2. plural of ether; volatile liquids used as anesthetics or solvents
Usage: medical; chemistry
3. plural of ether; the upper regions of space; the heavens
Usage: literary; archaic

Examples

• The laboratory stored various ethers in sealed containers.
• Diethyl ether was commonly used as an anesthetic in early surgery.
• Crown ethers are important in chemical research.
• The chemist studied the properties of different ethers.
• These ethers have low boiling points and evaporate quickly.
• The poet wrote of souls ascending to the ethers above.