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amberlike

 - 3 dictionary results

am⋅ber

  [am-ber]
Use amberlike in a Sentence
–noun
1. 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.
2. the yellowish-brown color of resin.
–adjective
3. of the color of amber; yellowish-brown: amber fields of grain.
4. made of amber: amber earrings.
Origin:
1350–1400; ME ambre < OF < ML ambra < Ar ʿanbar ambergris; confusion of the dissimilar substances perh. because both were rare, valuable, and found on seacoasts

Related forms:
am⋅ber⋅like, am⋅ber⋅y, am⋅ber⋅ous, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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Word Origin & History

amber 
1365, "ambergris," from O.Fr. ambre, from M.L. ambar, from Arabic 'anbar "amber," a word brought home to Europe by the Crusaders. The sense was extended to fossil resin c.1400, which has become the main sense as the use of ambergris has waned. This was formerly known as white or yellow amber. In Fr., they are distinguished as ambre gris and amber jaune. Cf. also electric.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: am·ber
Pronunciation: 'am-b&r
Function: noun
: a hard yellowish to brownish translucent fossil resin that takes a fine polish and isused chiefly in making ornamental objects (as beads) —amber adjective
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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