Understanding Ephemeral Beauty

During the long winter nights, the villagers would often gather around the fire to share stories and engage in spirited debates. One particularly cold evening, the discussion turned to the concept of ephemeral beauty in nature. With snow blanketing the landscape, many agreed that such beauty was fleeting and transformed by the passage of time. To them, this transitory quality resonated deeply as they reflected on their own lives.

In this context, what does the term ephemeral most closely mean?