noun
Common
amber
AM-buh
Amber (noun) means a hard, translucent, yellow-to-brown fossilized tree resin, used in jewellery and sometimes containing preserved insects. Example: “She bought a ring set with a small piece of amber.”
noun
1
A hard, translucent, yellow-to-brown fossilized tree resin, used in jewellery and sometimes containing preserved insects.
"She bought a ring set with a small piece of amber."
"Beads of amber washed up on the beach after the storm."
"The museum displayed a piece of amber with a prehistoric fly trapped inside."
2
A yellowish-orange colour, like that of the resin.
"The autumn leaves turned from green to a deep amber."
"He painted the bedroom walls in a soft amber."
"The room was lit in a warm amber glow at sunset."
3
The middle light of a traffic signal, signalling drivers to stop if it is safe to do so.
"The driver braked gently when the lights changed to amber."
"Wait at the junction if the light is amber and you can stop safely."
"He sped up as the light turned to amber."
adj
1
Of a brownish-yellow colour.
"The cat stared at us with amber eyes."
"We drank tea from tall amber glasses on the porch."
"She wore an amber necklace that matched her eyes."
How to use amber
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA gold-brown fossil resin, its colour, or the yellow traffic light.
UK vs US
British English calls the middle traffic light "amber"; American English usually calls it "yellow".
Common pairings
amber light
amber necklace
trapped in amber
amber alert
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Word forms
- Plural
- ambers
- Third person singular
- ambers
- Past tense
- ambered
- Comparative
- more amber
- Superlative
- most amber
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She bought a ring set with a small piece of _____.
Etymology
From Old French ambre, from Arabic anbar ("ambergris") — originally referring to a waxy whale product before the name shifted to the fossil resin.
Related words
Rhymes for amber
See all rhymes for amber →Frequently asked questions
What does “amber” mean?
The word “amber” means a hard, translucent, yellow-to-brown fossilized tree resin, used in jewellery and sometimes containing preserved insects. In plain terms, a gold-brown fossil resin, its colour, or the yellow traffic light.
How do you pronounce “amber”?
“Amber” is pronounced AM-buh (/ˈæm.bəː/ in IPA).
How do you use “amber” in a sentence?
Here is “amber” used in a sentence: “The museum displayed a piece of amber with a prehistoric fly trapped inside.”
What is another word for “amber”?
Words with a similar meaning to “amber” include ambergris.
What is the opposite of “amber”?
The opposite of “amber” — its antonyms — are red and green.
What part of speech is “amber”?
Depending on how it is used, “amber” can be a noun and an adjective.
Where does the word “amber” come from?
The word “amber” comes from Old French. From Old French ambre, from Arabic anbar ("ambergris") — originally referring to a waxy whale product before the name shifted to the fossil resin.
Is “amber” a common word?
“Amber” is a fairly common word in modern English.
What should drivers do when a traffic light turns amber?
When the amber light shows, drivers should stop if it is safe to do so, because it signals that the light is about to turn red. It is a warning to prepare to stop, not a cue to speed up. You should only continue through the junction if stopping suddenly would be unsafe.
What is the difference between "amber" and "yellow"?
As colours, amber is a deeper, more orange-tinged shade, while yellow is brighter and lighter. On traffic signals, British English calls the middle light "amber," whereas American English usually calls the same light "yellow." They point to the same signal but use different names.
Is amber a gemstone or a stone?
Amber is neither a true gemstone nor a mineral stone; it is hardened, fossilised tree resin. It is prized in jewellery for its warm colour and can sometimes contain insects that were trapped long ago. Because it comes from living trees, it is classed as an organic material rather than a rock.
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