fireplace
gb/fˈaɪɚplˌeɪs/ us/fˈaɪɚplˌeɪs/
A2
English
~ 9700
Senses
0 senses
Noun
A2
entity
1
indoor open place for a fire
A special open place built into a wall inside a room where you make a fire to warm the room or for decoration.
Usage pattern:
a fireplace in [a room/place]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse "fireplace" with "stove" or "oven". A fireplace is an open place in a wall where you see the fire, usually in a living room, while a stove or oven is for cooking in a kitchen. Some learners also say *"fireplace place"*, which is redundant; just say "fireplace".
Synonyms
hearth (More literary or old-fashioned; can mean the floor in front of the fireplace or the home and family in a symbolic way.)
|
fire pit (Refers to an outdoor open fire area, not usually built into an indoor wall.)
Antonyms
air conditioner (Cools indoor air instead of heating it with an open fire.)
Collocations
sit by the fireplace
|in front of the fireplace
|open fireplace
|stone fireplace
|gas fireplace
|fireplace mantel
Themes
home
|daily life
|architecture
|housing
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- We spent the evening talking by the fireplace while the logs crackled.
- The cabin has a large stone fireplace that heats the whole living room.
- They hung their Christmas stockings on the fireplace mantel.
- The landlord replaced the old wood-burning fireplace with a modern gas fireplace.
- She sat in front of the fireplace reading, with her dog sleeping at her feet.
Learner examples
- We sat by the fireplace and drank hot chocolate.
- There is a fireplace in the center of the living room.
- He put more wood in the fireplace to make the room warm.
- They like to read books in front of the fireplace.
- The hotel room has a small fireplace in the corner.
Grammar
Dictionary form
fireplace
IPA
GB/fˈaɪɚplˌeɪs/
US/fˈaɪɚplˌeɪs/
Syllables & stress
fire - place (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (fire)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: fireplace
- Plural: fireplaces
Word family
Expressions
gather around the fireplace
1/ɡˈæðɚ ɚˈaʊnd ðə fˈaɪɚplˌeɪs/
fixed phrase
people come together near fireplace
For a group of people to come close together near a fireplace.
Examples
- Every winter evening the family would gather around the fireplace to watch movies.
- Guests gathered around the fireplace and shared stories late into the night.
in front of the fireplace
1/ˈɪn fɹˈʌnt əv ðə fˈaɪɚplˌeɪs/
fixed phrase
position facing a fireplace
In a place directly facing the fireplace and not far from it.
Examples
- The children played in front of the fireplace while their parents cooked dinner.
- They put a big armchair in front of the fireplace.
sit by the fireplace
1/sˈɪt bˈaɪ ðə fˈaɪɚplˌeɪs/
fixed phrase
sit close to a fireplace
To sit near a fireplace, usually to feel warm or to relax.
Examples
- On cold nights we like to sit by the fireplace and talk.
- After skiing all day, they sat by the fireplace and warmed their hands.