chimney
gb/t͡ʃˈɪmni/ us/t͡ʃˈɪmni/
A2
English
~ 5900
Senses
0 senses
Noun
A2
entity
1
vertical structure for smoke exit
A tall tube or structure on a house or factory that takes smoke from a fire and lets it go outside into the air.
Usage pattern:
a [adjective] chimney on [a building]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use “chimney” when they mean “fireplace.” The fireplace is the open area inside the room where the fire burns, while the chimney is the structure that takes the smoke up and out of the building.
Synonyms
smokestack (Often used for very tall chimneys on factories or ships, especially in American English.)
|
flue (Refers more to the internal passage for smoke, not the whole outside structure.)
Antonyms
vent (A general opening for air or gas that usually does not have a tall, separate structure like a chimney.)
Collocations
brick chimney
|factory chimney
|smoke from the chimney
|clean the chimney
|tall chimney
|chimney fire
Themes
home
|buildings
|environment
|housing
|daily_life
Examples
- Thick black smoke poured out of the factory chimney.
- We could see Santa’s boots sticking out of the chimney in the cartoon.
- The old cottage has a wide stone chimney at one end.
- You should have the chimney swept before you light the first fire of the winter.
- Birds have built a nest in the chimney, so the fireplace can’t be used.
Learner examples
- Smoke is coming out of the chimney.
- The house has a big red chimney on the roof.
- They called a worker to clean the chimney.
- A bird is sitting on the top of the chimney.
Noun
B2
entity
2
glass tube around a flame
A glass tube around the flame of a lamp or candle that keeps the flame safe and lets the smoke go up.
Usage pattern:
a [adjective] chimney on [a lamp]
Common mistake:
Learners may not know this meaning and think only of a house chimney. In this sense, “chimney” is a part of a lamp, not part of a building.
Synonyms
lamp glass (A more specific term for the glass part of a lamp; less technical and less commonly used as a standalone noun.)
Antonyms
open flame (Describes a flame without any protective tube or cover around it.)
Collocations
glass chimney
|lamp chimney
|remove the chimney
|clean the chimney
|replace the chimney
Themes
home
|objects
|daily_life
Examples
- She carefully lifted the glass chimney off the oil lamp to trim the wick.
- The lamp chimney cracked when he set it down on the cold table.
- Soot built up on the inside of the chimney and dimmed the light.
- You need to buy a new chimney for that old hurricane lamp.
- The candle’s chimney kept the flame from going out in the wind.
Learner examples
- He takes off the glass chimney to light the lamp.
- The chimney around the candle is dirty.
- She washes the lamp chimney every week.
- The wind cannot blow out the flame because it has a chimney.
Noun
technical
C1
entity
3
vertical volcanic or hydrothermal shaft
In earth science, a deep, narrow hole or tube in rock that hot liquid rock or hot water moves through toward the ground surface.
Usage pattern:
a volcanic chimney under [a volcano]
Common mistake:
Learners may assume this is always a man‑made structure. In geology, a chimney is natural, formed by volcanic or hydrothermal activity.
Synonyms
conduit (Technical geology term for a passage through which magma or fluids travel; broader and more formal than “chimney.”)
Antonyms
solid rock (Represents rock without a vertical passage or opening for magma or fluids.)
Collocations
volcanic chimney
|hydrothermal chimney
|chimney structure
|magma chimney
|mineral chimney
Themes
science
|geography
|nature
Examples
- Magma rose through a narrow volcanic chimney before erupting at the crater.
- Scientists studied the hydrothermal chimneys on the ocean floor, where hot mineral-rich water was pouring out.
- Copper and zinc deposits formed around ancient chimneys in the collapsed volcanic field.
- The researchers mapped a chimney system feeding the main vent of the volcano.
- Bacteria thrive on the sides of black smoker chimneys near deep-sea ridges.
Learner examples
- Hot magma moves up through a volcanic chimney.
- There are tall chimneys on the sea floor where hot water comes out.
- The scientist draws a picture of a chimney under the volcano.
- Minerals grow around the chimney in the deep ocean.
Noun
technical
C1
entity
4
wide vertical rock crack for climbing
In climbing, a tall, narrow space in rock that is big enough for a person to go inside and climb by pushing against the two sides.
Usage pattern:
to climb a [adjective] chimney
Common mistake:
Outside of climbing, most people think of chimneys only as parts of buildings. In climbing, a chimney is a natural rock feature that you climb inside, not a man‑made structure.
Synonyms
rock chimney (More specific climbing term that makes clear it is a rock feature, not part of a building.)
Antonyms
arete (In climbing, a sharp, exposed edge of rock, contrasting with the enclosed feel of a chimney.)
Collocations
sharp chimney
|narrow chimney
|wide chimney
|climb the chimney
|chimney pitch
Themes
sports
|outdoors
|nature
Examples
- The route begins with a short chimney that protects well but feels very tight.
- She jammed her back and feet against the walls of the chimney and inched upward.
- The final pitch is a wide chimney that many beginners find intimidating.
- Rainwater had polished the inside of the chimney, making the moves slippery.
- They chose the shaded chimney line to avoid the afternoon sun.
Learner examples
- The climber moves up inside the rock chimney.
- He pushes his back and feet against the chimney walls.
- This route has a long, dark chimney near the top.
- She does not like climbing chimneys because they feel tight.
Grammar
Dictionary form
chimney
IPA
GB/t͡ʃˈɪmni/
US/t͡ʃˈɪmni/
Syllables & stress
chim - ney (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (chim)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: chimney
- Plural: chimneys
Word family
Forms
chimneys
noun
Related words
Expressions
chimney breast
1/t͡ʃˈɪmni bɹˈɛst/
fixed phrase
technical
wall section around fireplace
The part of an inside wall that comes out into the room around a fireplace and supports the chimney above.
Examples
- They removed the old gas fire and opened up the chimney breast.
- The television is mounted on the chimney breast above the new fireplace.
- The builder checked whether the chimney breast was still supporting the floor above.
chimney stack
1/t͡ʃˈɪmni stˈæk/
fixed phrase
visible top part of chimney
The part of a chimney that you can see above the roof of a building or factory.
Examples
- Birds were circling above the tall chimney stack of the old mill.
- The storm damaged the chimney stack, and loose bricks fell into the garden.
- Smoke drifted slowly from the cottage’s single chimney stack.
chimney sweep
1/t͡ʃˈɪmni swˈip/
fixed phrase
person who cleans chimneys
A worker who cleans chimneys so that smoke can go out safely.
Examples
- We called a chimney sweep to clean the fireplace before winter.
- The old picture showed a chimney sweep covered in soot on a rooftop.
- Modern chimney sweeps use cameras to check the inside of the flue.
smoke like a chimney
1/smˈoʊk lˈaɪk ə t͡ʃˈɪmni/
idiom
informal
smoke tobacco very often
To smoke cigarettes or cigars all the time.
Examples
- Ever since he lost his job, he’s been smoking like a chimney.
- My uncle smokes like a chimney—he goes through two packs a day.
- He used to smoke like a chimney before he finally quit last year.
- My uncle used to smoke like a chimney before he quit.
- She used to smoke like a chimney before she quit last year.
- My grandfather smoked like a chimney for decades and now has serious lung problems.
- She only drinks socially, but her boyfriend smokes like a chimney.