amber

7 definitions found

amber - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Amber \Am"ber\ ([a^]m"b[~e]r), n. [OE. aumbre, F. ambre, Sp.
     ['a]mbar, and with the Ar. article, al['a]mbar, fr. Ar.
     'anbar ambergris.]
     1. (Min.) A yellowish translucent resin resembling copal,
        found as a fossil in alluvial soils, with beds of lignite,
        or on the seashore in many places. It takes a fine polish,
        and is used for pipe mouthpieces, beads, etc., and as a
        basis for a fine varnish. By friction, it becomes strongly
        electric.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     Note: Amber is classified as a fossil resin, being typically
           of ancient origin, having solidified from the exudates
           of certain trees millions of years ago. Many pieces are
           found with insects embedded, the insects having been
           trapped by the resin while they were alive. The insects
           are often very well preserved, due to the antimicrobial
           action of components of the amber. It typically
           contains from 5 to 8 percent of succinic acid. "Baltic
           amber" has been mined for centuries in the region of
           Poland formerly called East Prussia, and is the variety
           used in most jewelry made in Poland and Russia. The
           Baltic strata containing amber extend under the sea,
           and amber beads may be found there deposited by waves
           along the shore. Amber was known to the ancient Greeks.
           The name "electron" comes from the Latin word for
           amber, electrum, derived from the Greek word,
           'h`lektron (see electric), due to the electric charge
           that amber takes when rubbed, as with cat fur. Although
           at one time used in fine varnishes, it no longer has
           any commercial value for that purpose, being used
           mostly in jewelry. Significant deposits are also found
           in the Carribean region, and smaller amounts in various
           other places. The notion, that DNA sufficiently intact
           to recreate extinct animals might be extracted from
           amber, was the basis for Michael Crichton's novel
           "Jurassic Park", but has as yet (1997) not been
           demonstrated to be possible.
           [PJC]
  
     2. Amber color, or anything amber-colored; a clear light
        yellow; as, the amber of the sky.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     3. Ambergris. [Obs.]
        [1913 Webster]
  
              You that smell of amber at my charge. --Beau. & Fl.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     4. The balsam, liquidambar.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     Black amber, and old and popular name for jet.
        [1913 Webster]

  Amber \Am"ber\, a.
     1. Consisting of amber; made of amber. "Amber bracelets."
        --Shak.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. Resembling amber, especially in color; amber-colored. "The
        amber morn." --Tennyson.
        [1913 Webster]

  Amber \Am"ber\, v. t. [p. p. & p. a. Ambered .]
     1. To scent or flavor with ambergris; as, ambered wine.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. To preserve in amber; as, an ambered fly.
        [1913 Webster]

amber - WordNet (r) 2.1 (2005) :

  amber
      adj 1: of a medium to dark brownish yellow color [syn: amber,
             brownish-yellow, yellow-brown]
      n 1: a deep yellow color; "an amber light illuminated the room";
           "he admired the gold of her hair" [syn: amber, gold]
      2: a hard yellowish to brownish translucent fossil resin; used
         for jewelry

amber - Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (26 May 2007) :

  Amber
  
     <language> 1. A functional programming language which adds
     CSP-like concurrency, multiple inheritance and
     persistence to ML and generalises its type system.  It is
     similar to Galileo.  Programs must be written in two type
     faces, roman and italics!  It has both static types and
     dynamic types.
  
     There is an implementation for Macintosh.
  
     ["Amber", L. Cardelli, TR Bell Labs, 1984].
  
     2.  An object-oriented distributed language based on a
     subset of C++, developed at Washington University in the
     late 1980s.
  
     (1994-12-08)
  

amber - Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary :

  Amber
  (Ezek. 1:4, 27; 8:2. Heb., hashmal, rendered by the LXX.
  elektron, and by the Vulgate electrum), a metal compounded of
  silver and gold. Some translate the word by "polished brass,"
  others "fine brass," as in Rev. 1:15; 2:18. It was probably the
  mixture now called electrum. The word has no connection,
  however, with what is now called amber, which is a gummy
  substance, reckoned as belonging to the mineral kingdom though
  of vegetable origin, a fossil resin.

amber - U.S. Gazetteer (1990) :

  Amber, OK (town, FIPS 1900)
    Location: 35.16142 N, 97.88051 W
    Population (1990): 418 (162 housing units)
    Area: 10.2 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water)
    Zip code(s): 73004