The difference between Ethereal and Gossamer

When used as adjectives, ethereal means pertaining to the hypothetical upper, purer air, or to the higher regions beyond the earth or beyond the atmosphere, whereas gossamer means tenuous, light, filmy or delicate.


Gossamer is also noun with the meaning: a fine film or strand as of cobwebs, floating in the air or caught on bushes, etc.

check bellow for the other definitions of Ethereal and Gossamer

  1. Ethereal as an adjective:

    Pertaining to the hypothetical upper, purer air, or to the higher regions beyond the earth or beyond the atmosphere; celestial; otherworldly.

    Examples:

    "usex ethereal space"

    "usex ethereal regions"

  2. Ethereal as an adjective:

    Consisting of ether; hence, exceedingly light or airy; tenuous; spiritlike; characterized by extreme delicacy, as form, manner, thought, etc.

  3. Ethereal as an adjective:

    Delicate, light and airy.

  4. Ethereal as an adjective:

    (chemistry) To do with ether.

  1. Gossamer as a noun:

    A fine film or strand as of cobwebs, floating in the air or caught on bushes, etc.

  2. Gossamer as a noun:

    A soft, sheer fabric.

  3. Gossamer as a noun:

    Anything delicate, light and flimsy.

  1. Gossamer as an adjective:

    Tenuous, light, filmy or delicate.

    Examples:

    "The heaven was spangled with tremulous stars, and at the horizon the clouds hung down in gossamer folds—God's robe trailing in the sea!"