cinders

Meanings

1. 1nounplural

   The small black or gray pieces left after wood or coal has burned.

   Grammar: Used as a plural noun: the cinders were still warm. The singular form cinder means one piece.

   Patterns

   • a pile of cinders
   • glowing cinders
   • cinders from something

   We swept the cinders out of the fireplace before lighting a new fire.

   The campfire had died down to a few glowing cinders.

   Cinders from the old stove covered the floor.

2. 2nouncountable

   A small piece of partly burned coal or wood that is still hot and often glowing.

   Grammar: This sense is countable and usually appears in the singular: a cinder flew out of the fire.

   Patterns

   • a glowing cinder
   • a hot cinder
   • a cinder from a fire

   A cinder popped out of the grate and landed on the rug.

   He picked up a cinder with the tongs and dropped it into the bucket.

   The wind blew a cinder against my arm.

Word forms

Common combinations

pile of cinders

A pile of cinders sat where the bonfire had been.

glowing cinders

The glowing cinders gave off a little warmth.

sweep up the cinders

Please sweep up the cinders before the guests arrive.

cinders and ash

The fire left only cinders and ash.

Synonyms and how they differ

ashes

Ashes are the fine gray powder left after burning, while cinders are larger, rougher pieces that may still be hot.

embers

Embers are the glowing remains of a fire, often still red and hot; cinders are the blackened solid bits that are left.

clinker

Clinker is a hard, glassy lump left after coal burns, especially in a furnace; cinders are the more general word for fire remains.

Word family

cinder noun

A single piece of burned material, especially one that is still glowing.

cindery adjective

Covered with or resembling cinders.

Commonly confused: cinders or sinders?

Practice

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