AMBER Definition & Meaning

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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 ) succinic
  an amber necklace
fly in amber
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

/ ă��′��ə�� /

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

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Other 51�Թ� Forms

��b��·�� ��b��·�� ��b��·�ǳܲ� adjective

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51�Թ� 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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51�Թ� 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.

Meanwhile, the Met Office has issued an amber wildfires warning for parts of England, southern Scotland and Northern Ireland until Monday, as conditions are dry with strong winds.

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Safety measures in these jurisdictions include retractable stop signs on the left-hand side of buses which flashes amber or red when children are exiting.

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The Natural Hazards Partnership issued an amber warning for wildfires in Northern Ireland last Friday.

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At least visually, the cinematography is stunning with saturated reds, blues and amber oranges, as well as nifty focus racks that do a lovely job of telling us where to look.

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I would swim early in the morning when the water was still or late at night as the sun set, casting stunning ambers and pinks streaks through the sky.

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