Définition "ether" dans le dictionnaire Collins English Dictionary & Thesaurus

ether n

1 (Also called) diethyl ether, ethyl ether, ethoxyethane a colourless volatile highly flammable liquid with a characteristic sweetish odour, made by the reaction of sulphuric acid with ethanol: used as a solvent and anaesthetic. Formula: C2H5OC2H5

2 any of a class of organic compounds with the general formula ROR<minute> where R and R<minute> are alkyl groups, as in diethyl ether C2H5OC2H5

3 ♦ the ether the hypothetical medium formerly believed to fill all space and to support the propagation of electromagnetic waves

4 (Greek myth) the upper regions of the atmosphere; clear sky or heaven

5 a rare word for → air (Also (for senses 3--5)) aether (C17: from Latin aether, from Greek aither, from aithein to burn)
♦ etheric adj

crown ether n
(Chem) a type of cyclic ether consisting of a ring of carbon and oxygen atoms, with two carbon atoms between each oxygen atom

diethyl ether n a formal name for → ether → 1

ethyl ether n a more formal name for → ether → 1

petroleum ether n
a volatile mixture of the higher alkane hydrocarbons, obtained as a fraction of petroleum and used as a solvent

thio-ether n any of a class of organic compounds in which a sulphur atom is bound to two hydrocarbon groups