ashtray: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B1Neutral
Quick answer
What does “ashtray” mean?
A container, usually small and dish-shaped, designed to hold ash and cigarette butts.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A container, usually small and dish-shaped, designed to hold ash and cigarette butts.
Any receptacle or designated area for disposing of tobacco ash and the remains of smoked items; can sometimes be used metaphorically for something dirty or undesirable.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No major differences in meaning or usage. Spelling and pronunciation are standard. Occasionally, the British might use 'fag end' more readily for 'cigarette butt', which would be placed in an ashtray.
Connotations
Historically neutral, but in modern health-conscious contexts, can carry negative connotations associated with smoking, dirtiness, or dated environments.
Frequency
Frequency has decreased significantly in both varieties with the decline of public smoking, but remains equally common in both where the object is referenced.
Grammar
How to Use “ashtray” in a Sentence
[Noun] + Verb: The ashtray overflowed.Preposition + [Noun]: He tapped his cigarette into the ashtray.[Noun] + Preposition: an ashtray for cigarsVocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in hospitality (hotel room inventory) or manufacturing contexts. 'The contract specifies the provision of waste bins and ashtrays for the outdoor seating area.'
Academic
Very rare. Might appear in historical, sociological, or design studies discussing smoking culture. 'The design evolution of the mid-century modern ashtray reflects changing social habits.'
Everyday
Most common context. 'Could you pass me the ashtray, please?' 'I need to empty the ashtrays before the guests arrive.'
Technical
Used in industrial design, hospitality supplies, and public health regulations. 'The wall-mounted ashtray must comply with fire safety standards.'
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “ashtray”
- Spelling: 'ashtray' is one word, not 'ash tray' or 'ash-tray'.
- Pronunciation: Stress is on the first syllable: ASH-tray, not ash-TRAY.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is one word: 'ashtray'. The hyphenated form 'ash-tray' is archaic.
Its frequency has declined with smoking bans, but it remains the standard term for the object where it is still used.
Yes, common types include desktop, wall-mounted, car, portable, and standing (floor) ashtrays, made from materials like glass, metal, ceramic, or plastic.
Yes, informally it can describe something dirty, messy, or a place where undesirable things accumulate (e.g., 'This room is an ashtray').
A container, usually small and dish-shaped, designed to hold ash and cigarette butts.
Ashtray is usually neutral in register.
Ashtray: in British English it is pronounced ˈæʃtreɪ, and in American English it is pronounced ˈæʃˌtreɪ. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “(as) useful as an ashtray on a motorbike (UK) / motorcycle (US)”
- “(as)htray mouth (slang for bad breath from smoking)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
ASH goes in a TRAY = ASHTRAY.
Conceptual Metaphor
A CONTAINER FOR WASTE / UNHEALTHY HABITS.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary function of an ashtray?