Definition: ethereal

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Source: WordNet (r) 1.7 

ethereal
     adj 1: characterized by lightness and insubstantiality; as
            impalpable or intangible as air; "figures light and
            aeriform come unlooked for and melt away"- Thomas
            Carlyle; "aerial fancies"; "an airy apparition";
            "physical rather than ethereal forms" [syn: aeriform,
             aerial, airy, aery]
     2: (chemistry) of or containing or dissolved in ether;
        "ethereal solution"
     3: of heaven or the spirit; "celestial peace"; "ethereal
        melodies"; "the supernal happiness of a quiet death" [syn:
         celestial, supernal]
     4: characterized by unusual lightness and delicacy; "this
        smallest and most ethereal of birds"; "gossamer shading
        through his playing" [syn: gossamer]

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) 

Ethereal \E*the"re*al\, a.
   1. Pertaining to the hypothetical upper, purer air, or to the
      higher regions beyond the earth or beyond the atmosphere;
      celestial; as, ethereal space; ethereal regions.

            Go, heavenly guest, ethereal messenger. --Milton.

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

            Vast chain of being, which from God began, Natures
            ethereal, human, angel, man.          --Pope.

   3. (Chem.) Pertaining to, derived from, or resembling, ether;
      as, ethereal salts.

   Ethereal oil. (Chem.) See Essential oil, under
      Essential.

   Ethereal oil of wine (Chem.), a heavy, yellow, oily liquid
      consisting essentially of etherin, etherol, and ethyl
      sulphate. It is the oily residuum left after
      etherification. Called also heavy oil of wine
      (distinguished from oil of wine, or [oe]nanthic ether).

   Ethereal salt (Chem.), a salt of some organic radical as a
      base; an ester.