# ashtray

/ˈæʃˌtɹeɪ/ (US) · /ˈæʃtɹeɪ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/ashtray
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. receptacle for tobacco waste

noun · CEFR B1

a small dish or container used for cigarette ash and finished cigarettes.

For teachers: a container, typically made of glass, ceramic, or metal, intended for the disposal of tobacco ash and cigarette or cigar ends.

- He looked for an ashtray to put out his cigarette before entering the building.
- The hotel lobby featured heavy crystal ashtrays on every side table, a relic of an era before indoor smoking bans became standard.

Usage: A countable noun; usually used with the definite article when referring to a specific one in a room.

Teaching tip: While common in older literature and films, this word is becoming less frequent in daily life due to public smoking bans.

## Examples

- He put his cigarette in the ashtray.
- The waiter placed a fresh ashtray on the table to accommodate the guests who were smoking.
- While modern public spaces often ban smoking entirely, many private offices still keep an ashtray on the desk for those who prefer to smoke in designated areas.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.