hearth
gb/hˈɑɹθ/ us/hˈɑɹθ/
B2
English
~ 25500
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B2
entity
1
floor of a fireplace
The hard floor in and in front of a fireplace where the fire burns and the ashes fall.
Usage pattern:
to sit by the hearth
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse "hearth" with "heart" because they look similar. "Hearth" is about a fireplace; "heart" is the organ in your body or the center of your feelings. Some learners also use "hearth" to mean any heater or stove, but it specifically refers to the floor area of a fireplace.
Synonyms
fireplace (Usually refers to the whole structure in the wall where a fire is made, not just the floor in front of it.)
|
fireside (Focuses on the area beside the fire and the cozy atmosphere, not specifically the hard floor surface.)
Antonyms
outdoors (Being outside, away from the indoor area where a fireplace and hearth are found.)
Collocations
stone hearth
|open hearth
|warm hearth
|sit by the hearth
|sweep the hearth
|hearth rug
Themes
home
|daily life
|architecture
|housing
|daily_life
Examples
- She placed a metal screen in front of the hearth to catch any stray sparks.
- Wet boots were lined up along the hearth to dry by the fire.
- Soot had built up on the bricks of the old hearth.
- They gathered around the hearth on cold winter nights, telling stories until midnight.
Learner examples
- The cat slept on the warm hearth.
- He put another log on the fire and sat by the hearth.
- There is a rug on the hearth in front of the fireplace.
- She cleaned the ashes from the hearth after the fire went out.
Noun
literary
C1
entity
2
home and family life
Someone’s home and family life, seen as a warm and safe place.
Usage pattern:
to leave hearth and home
Common mistake:
Learners may use this sense in very casual, modern speech where it can sound strange or old-fashioned. In everyday talk, people normally say "home" or "family" instead of "hearth." Also, do not confuse "hearth and home" with "heart and home"; only "hearth and home" is correct.
Synonyms
home (More general and common; does not automatically suggest warmth and family in the same strong, traditional way.)
|
household (Focuses on the people living together and their shared life; less emotional and poetic than "hearth.")
Antonyms
wilderness (Suggests a place far from houses and family life, the opposite of the safety and comfort of the hearth.)
Collocations
hearth and home
|a happy hearth
|the family hearth
|leave hearth and home
|protect the hearth
Themes
home
|relationships
|society
|daily_life
Examples
- War forced many families to abandon hearth and home and seek safety elsewhere.
- She dreamed of a quiet hearth where her children could grow up in peace.
- Writers often describe the hearth as the heart of traditional family life.
- After years of travel, he longed for the simple comfort of his own hearth.
Learner examples
- He left his hearth and home to find work in the city.
- Stories in old books talk about the hearth as the center of family life.
- They wanted to build a safe hearth for their children.
- Many people were driven from their hearths by the storm.
Noun
technical
C2
entity
3
base of an industrial furnace
The bottom part inside a large industrial furnace where metal or glass is heated or melted.
Usage pattern:
the hearth of [a furnace]
Synonyms
furnace floor (A more descriptive phrase used in technical explanations; less standard as a set term than "hearth" in some industries.)
Antonyms
furnace roof (Refers to the top inner surface of a furnace, opposite in position to the hearth at the bottom.)
Collocations
furnace hearth
|blast-furnace hearth
|smelting hearth
|open-hearth furnace
Themes
industry
|science
|work
Examples
- Slag collected at the bottom of the blast-furnace hearth during the smelting process.
- Engineers inspected the furnace hearth for signs of erosion before restarting production.
- The design of the hearth affects how evenly the metal melts inside the furnace.
Learner examples
- Liquid steel gathers on the hearth of the furnace.
- Workers checked the hearth for damage after the long run.
- The shape of the hearth helps control the heat in the furnace.
Grammar
Dictionary form
hearth
IPA
GB/hˈɑɹθ/
US/hˈɑɹθ/
Syllables & stress
hearth (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (hearth)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: hearth
- Plural: hearths
Word family
Forms
hearths
noun
Core family
fireplace
noun A2
Related words
fireside
noun
Advanced or less common
hearthstone
noun
Expressions
hearth and home
1/hˈɑɹθ ˈænd hˈoʊm/
idiom
literary
one’s home and family life
Your home and your family life, seen together as one important part of your life.
Examples
- They were forced to flee hearth and home after the flooding.
- Years of working abroad made him appreciate hearth and home more than ever.
- The charity helps people who have lost hearth and home in natural disasters.