ash的基本意思是“灰”,指物体烧过后所留下的粉末; 也可指某地烧过后成为“灰烬,废墟”; 还可指人死火化后的残留物,即“骨灰”。

The house was burnt down to ashes.房子被烧成了灰烬。
Her ashes were spread over the sea.她的骨灰被撒到海里。

［词源］＜中古英语asshe(灰)