Also means
airwaves
Usage Note
Etere has two distinct uses: in chemistry it is the organic compound diethyl ether; in media Italian, via etere or trasmettere nell'etere means broadcasting over the airwaves (radio/TV). The latter is the more common everyday sense. The plural eteri is rare and restricted to the chemical context.
Examples
"Il messaggio fu lanciato nell'etere."
Natural Translation
The message was broadcast over the airwaves.
Literal Translation
The message was thrown into-the ether.

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