urn
pronunciation
How to pronounce urn in British English:
UK [ɜːn]
How to pronounce urn in American English:
US [ɜːrn]
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- Noun:
- a large vase that usually has a pedestal or feet
- a large pot for making coffee or tea
Word Origin
- urn (n.)
- late 14c., "large, rounded vase used to preserve the ashes of the dead," from Latin urna "a jar, vessel of baked clay, water-jar; vessel for the ashes of the dead" (also used as a ballot box and for drawing lots), probably from earlier *urc-na, akin to urceus "pitcher, jug," and from the same source as Greek hyrke "earthen vessel." But another theory connects it to Latin urere "to burn" (compare bust (n.1)).
Example
- 1. Branches are the perfect complement to an antique silver urn .
- 2. Other artists have raised objections , such as ai weiwei , who in 1995 famously photographed himself dropping a han dynasty urn and letting it smash on the ground .
- 3. Tea out of an urn is always tasteless , while army tea , made in a cauldron , tastes of grease and whitewash .
- 4. Poetree is a funeral urn that evolves over time , allowing loved ones to plant a tree in the ashes , while also providing a simple but elegant monument .
- 5. Relatives can place the deceased 's ashes in the urn and take it home , along with a boxwood tree sapling in a biodegradable pot .