fireplace
B1Neutral, common in everyday, descriptive, and literary contexts.
Definition
Meaning
A structure, usually made of brick or stone, built into a wall of a room, designed to contain an open fire for heating or cooking.
A central, comforting feature of a home; a gathering point symbolizing warmth, security, and domestic life; can also refer to a decorative feature in modern homes, sometimes non-functioning.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Historically a primary heat source, now often decorative. Associated with specific room types (living room, sitting room, bedroom).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical differences. 'Hearth' is a more formal/literary synonym used similarly in both.
Connotations
Both carry connotations of domestic comfort. Slightly more common in descriptions of older British homes due to architectural trends.
Frequency
Comparably frequent. The advent of central heating has reduced functional necessity equally in both regions.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
have a fireplacesit by the fireplacegather around the fireplaceinstall a fireplaceVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “hearth and home”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Used in real estate listings or hotel descriptions (e.g., 'suite with a working fireplace').
Academic
Used in historical, architectural, or sociological texts discussing domestic life.
Everyday
Very common when describing homes, comfort, or winter activities.
Technical
Used in architecture, building regulations, and heating engineering.
Examples
By Part of Speech
noun
British English
- The original Victorian fireplace had beautiful tilework.
- They decided to board up the old fireplace to stop the draught.
American English
- The fireplace in the cabin was big enough to fit whole logs.
- We're thinking of adding a gas fireplace insert for convenience.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- There is a big fireplace in the living room.
- The cat sleeps near the fireplace.
- We bought a house with a fireplace in the master bedroom.
- Hanging stockings by the fireplace is a Christmas tradition.
- Despite the central heating, they still light the fireplace for atmosphere on winter evenings.
- The estate agent highlighted the original marble fireplace as a key selling point.
- The grand fireplace, surmounted by an ornate gilded mirror, dominated the drawing room.
- Anthropologists note the shift of the fireplace from a functional necessity to a symbolic centre of familial interaction.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a PLACE where you make a FIRE. The word is simply 'fire' + 'place'.
Conceptual Metaphor
A FIREPLACE IS THE HEART OF THE HOME.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Not 'камин' in all contexts. Russian 'камин' can imply a more modern, often freestanding stove. 'Fireplace' is more specific to a built-in architectural feature with a chimney.
Common Mistakes
- Spelling as two words ('fire place'). Using it to mean 'furnace' or 'boiler'.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is NOT typically a part of a fireplace?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is a single, compound word: 'fireplace'.
No, it is exclusively a noun.
A fireplace is an open structure built into a wall with a chimney. A stove is an enclosed, freestanding appliance for heating or cooking.
Traditional wood-burning fireplaces require a chimney or flue. Modern 'ventless' or electric fireplaces may not.