fireplace
Americannoun
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fireplaces
plural
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the part of a chimney that opens into a room and in which fuel is burned; hearth.
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any open structure, usually of masonry, for keeping a fire, as at a campsite.
noun
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an open recess in a wall of a room, at the base of a chimney, etc, for a fire; hearth
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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:
Kitaj is the most melancholy of all the likenesses, and the only one that Ashbery did not tuck away but placed against a fireplace in an upstairs sitting room.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 24, 2026
The living area exudes class thanks to it dual seating areas, which are separated by a fireplace and piano.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 19, 2026
The book on classic Greek architecture was stored in a tea chest hidden behind a boarded-up fireplace for decades before it was recently discovered by a family member.
From BBC ● Aug. 7, 2026
Two children were airlifted to a burn center after a tabletop fireplace used to roast marshmallows burned them and a relative.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 6, 2026
In front of the fireplace was a spinning wheel.
From "Rump: The (Fairly) True Story of Rumpelstilskin" by Liesl Shurtliff
Built in 1912, this European-inspired Bratenahl home has four fireplaces, an elevator and original wood floors.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 2, 2026
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
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
Harry thundered, and the powerful voice of Runcorn echoed through the Atrium: The wizards sealing the fireplaces froze.
From "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" by J.K. Rowling
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.
