cin·der (sĭn'dər)
n.

1. 1. A burned or partly burned substance, such as coal, that is not reduced to ashes but is incapable of further combustion.
   2. A partly charred substance that can burn further but without flame.
2. cinders Ashes.
3. cinders Geology. See scoria (sense 1).
4. Metallurgy. See scoria (sense 2).
5. Slag from a metal furnace.

tr.v., -dered, -der·ing, -ders.
To burn or reduce to cinders.

[Alteration (influenced by Old French cendre, ashes) of Middle English sinder, from Old English, slag, dross.]

cindery cin'der·y adj.

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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

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