\Em"ber\, n. [OE. emmeres, emeres, AS. ?myrie; akin to
Icel. eimyrja, Dan. emmer, MHG. eimere; cf. Icel. eimr vapor,
smoke.]
A lighted coal, smoldering amid ashes; -- used chiefly in the
plural, to signify mingled coals and ashes; the smoldering
remains of a fire. ``He rakes hot embers.'' --Dryden.
      He takes a lighted ember out of the covered vessel.
                                               --Colebrooke.

\Em"ber\, a. [OE. ymber, AS. ymbren, ymbryne, prop.,
running around, circuit; ymbe around + ryne a running, fr.
rinnan to run. See {Amb-}, and {Run}.]
Making a circuit of the year of the seasons; recurring in
each quarter of the year; as, ember fasts.
{Ember days} (R. C. & Eng. Ch.), days set apart for fasting
   and prayer in each of the four seasons of the year. The
   Council of Placentia [A. D. 1095] appointed for ember days
   the Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday after the first Sunday
   in Lent, Whitsuntide, the 14th of September, and the 13th
   of December. The weeks in which these days fall are called
   ember weeks.