chimney

noun

chim·​ney ˈchim-nē How to pronounce chimney (audio)
plural chimneys
Synonyms of chimneynext
1
dialect : fireplace, hearth
2
: a vertical structure incorporated into a building and enclosing a flue or flues that carry off smoke
especially : the part of such a structure extending above a roof
3
: smokestack
4
: a tube usually of glass placed around a flame (as of a lamp)
5
: something resembling a chimney: such as
a
: a narrow cleft or passage in rock
b
: a tall column of rock on the ocean floor that is formed by the precipitation of minerals from superheated water issuing from a hydrothermal vent and rising through the column of rock
chimneylike
ˈchim-nē-ˌlīk How to pronounce chimney (audio)
adjective

Examples of chimney in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Thursday's fire broke out when workers tried to remove the chimney's broken tip, though nobody was injured, officials said. — ABC News, 3 Sep. 2026 One rises, then another, then seemingly all of them—great striped bulbs of crimson, lemon yellow, and turquoise drifting between the fairy chimneys as the first sunlight catches the dusty pink folds of the landscape. — Scott Campbell, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 Sep. 2026 Two brick chimneys bordered a shingled roof, the front portico edged by columns. — Literary Hub, 2 Sep. 2026 Feral pigeons are famously terrible nest builders and are drawn to buildings and roofs with features like solar panels, chimneys, eaves, and AC units to make their homes. — Molly Burford, Southern Living, 1 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for chimney

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French chiminee, from Late Latin caminata, from Latin caminus furnace, fireplace, from Greek kaminos; perhaps akin to Greek kamara vault

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of chimney was in the 14th century

Phrases Containing chimney

Browse Nearby Words

Chimmesyan
chimney
chimney back
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Chimney.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chimney. Accessed 7 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

chimney

noun
chim·​ney ˈchim-nē How to pronounce chimney (audio)
plural chimneys
1
: a vertical structure extending above the roof of a building for carrying off smoke
2
: a tube usually of glass around a flame (as of a lamp)
3
: something resembling a chimney

More from Merriam-Webster on chimney

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for chimney

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about chimney

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