fireplace
Americannoun
-
fireplaces
plural
-
the part of a chimney that opens into a room and in which fuel is burned; hearth.
-
any open structure, usually of masonry, for keeping a fire, as at a campsite.
noun
-
an open recess in a wall of a room, at the base of a chimney, etc, for a fire; hearth
-
an authorized place or installation for outside cooking, esp by a roadside
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of fireplace
Explanation
A fireplace is a structure built into the wall of a house or building where a flame can be safely kindled, providing warmth and a cozy atmosphere, especially on cold nights. Often made of brick, stone, or metal, a fireplace not only warms a room but also creates a cozy, inviting atmosphere that offers relief from the cold. Historically, fireplaces were the heart of the home, essential for heating and cooking. In medieval times, they were often located in the center of the room, allowing the smoke to escape through a hole in the roof. It wasn’t until the Renaissance that chimneys became common, making fireplaces more efficient and less smoky.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
It features floor-to-ceiling windows, which frame the majestic views, as well as a cozy marble fireplace and vaulted ceiling.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 12, 2026
The book somehow ended up in a tea chest - along with other family records - which was placed in a fireplace that was covered up.
From BBC ● Aug. 7, 2026
The library’s original borrowing records have been lost, however, leaving the identity of the delinquent reader — and the reason the book was sealed inside a fireplace — a mystery.
From Salon ● Aug. 2, 2026
We went around the long dinner table, illuminated by a fireplace, and read what we’d scribbled.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 29, 2026
There was a pile of Ivans sleeping in front of the fireplace as there had been the other morning, resting on one another at various angles.
From Anya and the Dragon by Sofiya Pasternack
Video of the fire aftermath on Sunday showed scores of homes burned to the ground, with only their brick fireplaces and foundations remaining, while other houses nearby escaped practically unscathed.
From Barron's ● Aug. 3, 2026
The tabletop fireplaces were previously sold between 2018 and 2024 and ranged in price from $35 to $105.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 29, 2026
However, by the time she listed the home, the Hollywood heavyweight had given it a complete transformation, adding two bedrooms, a half bathroom, 3,000 square feet of extra living space, three fireplaces, and a patio.
From MarketWatch ● Jun. 23, 2026
Uniformed doormen greet guests at the entrance, while chandeliers, fireplaces and classic architectural details reinforce the hotel’s historic character.
From Salon ● Jun. 11, 2026
In the evenings, as the frost-tinged night came on, the staff built fires of Elgon olive logs in the fireplaces, and the food in the dining room was horrible, in the best English tradition.
From "The Hot Zone" by Richard Preston
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
