hearth

American  

[hahrth] / hɑrθ /

noun

1. the floor of a fireplace, usually of stone, brick, etc., often extending a short distance into a room.

2. home; fireside.

   the joys of family and hearth.

   Synonyms:

   house, abode, household

3. Metallurgy.

   1. the lower part of a blast furnace, cupola, etc., in which the molten metal collects and from which it is tapped out.

   2. the part of an open hearth, reverberatory furnace, etc., upon which the charge is placed and melted down or refined.

4. a brazier or chafing dish for burning charcoal.

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hearth British  

/ hɑːθ /

noun

1. 1. the floor of a fireplace, esp one that extends outwards into the room

   2. ( as modifier )

      hearth rug

2. this part of a fireplace as a symbol of the home, etc

3. the bottom part of a metallurgical furnace in which the molten metal is produced or contained

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Other Word Forms

• hearthless adjective
• multihearth noun

Etymology

Origin of hearth

First recorded before 900; Middle English herth(e), Old English he(o)rth; cognate with German Herd, Dutch haard

Explanation

If you are warming yourself by the fireplace, you are sitting by the hearth. The noun hearth refers to a fireplace and the area around it. Hearth refers specifically to the paved floor of a fireplace, which may extend out into a room. Hearths are associated with home and family because the hearth was historically the main source of heat in the home, as well as where the cooking was done. As a result, family members often gathered together around the hearth. The importance of the hearth has made it symbolic of the home, as in the phrase "hearth and home."

Example Sentences

From repeatedly whacking steel with a heavy hammer to sitting sweat-drenched by a hearth for hours, the daily grind of blademaking is also not for the faint-hearted.

From Barron's • Feb. 11, 2026

The hearth, where many of these dishes were made, was the one source of heat for many families, especially in the countryside.

From Salon • Jan. 24, 2026

The kit will talk users through the process with voice instructions as well as checking the person's hearth rhythm to determine whether a shock is needed.

From BBC • Dec. 30, 2025

But these small solaces, this idea of a table carefully tended, of a little beauty or attention to hearth and home, take on more power in these uncertain times.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 4, 2025

The very fancy oriental rug covering the wooden floor and the slate flagstones of the hearth only served to make the room seem even more imposing.

From "Ophie's Ghosts" by Justina Ireland

Related Words

• fireplace