View synonyms for

amber

[am-ber]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

a pale yellow, sometimes reddish or brownish, fossil resin of vegetable origin, translucent, brittle, and capable of gaining a negative electrical charge by friction and of being an excellent insulator: used for making jewelry and other ornamental articles.
the yellowish-brown color of resin.

adjective

of the color of amber; yellowish-brown.
amber fields of grain.
made of amber.
amber earrings.

Amber

[am-ber]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

a first name.

amber

/ ˈæ��ə /

noun

1. a yellow or yellowish-brown hard translucent fossil resin derived from extinct coniferous trees that occurs in Tertiary deposits and often contains trapped insects. It is used for jewellery, ornaments, etc
2. ( as modifier )
  an amber necklace
a strange relic or reminder of the past
1. a medium to dark brownish-yellow colour, often somewhat orange, similar to that of the resin
2. ( as adjective )
  an amber dress
an amber traffic light used as a warning between red and green

amber

A hard, translucent, brownish-yellow substance that is the fossilized resin of ancient trees. It often contains fossil insects.

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Other Word Forms

amberlike adjective
ambery adjective
amberous adjective

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Word History and Origins

Origin of amber¹

1350–1400; Middle English ambre < Old French < Medieval Latin ambra < Arabic ʿ��Բ�� ambergris; confusion of the dissimilar substances perhaps because both were rare, valuable, and found on seacoasts

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Word History and Origins

Origin of amber¹

C14: from Medieval Latin ambar, from Arabic `anbar ambergris

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A Closer Look

Certain trees, especially conifers, produce a sticky substance called resin to protect themselves against insects. Normally, it decays in oxygen through the action of bacteria. However, if the resin happens to fall into wet mud or sand containing little oxygen, it can harden and eventually fossilize, becoming the yellowish, translucent substance known as amber. If any insects or other organisms are trapped in the resin before it hardens, they can be preserved, often in exquisite detail. By studying these preserved organisms, scientists are able learn key facts about life on Earth millions of years ago.

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Life doesn’t screech to a halt after a Pollyanna rom-com ending, just like love isn’t cast in amber, destined to be preserved forever.

From

An amber weather warning for thunderstorms has been issued by the Met Office for parts of eastern and south-eastern England.

From

Concern over blood stocks prompted the health service to issue an "amber alert" last year, meaning supplies were running low enough to have an impact on patient treatment.

From

“If he’s in prison, he will not understand why,” defense attorney Samuel Cross told the judge, describing Girardi’s memory as “frozen in amber 30 years ago” when he was at the height of his career.

From

According to 'AuroraWatch UK', solar activity increased with 'amber' and then 'red' alerts being issued late on Tuesday.

From

ambeer Amber Alert

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