fireplace

The word “fireplace” means an open recess at the base of a chimney where a fire is built for heat. In plain terms, the built-in hearth where a household fire burns.

“Fireplace” is pronounced FEYE-uhp-lays (/ˈfaɪɹpleɪs/ in IPA).

Here is “fireplace” used in a sentence: “They gathered around the fireplace with mugs of hot chocolate.”

“Fireplace” is a noun.

“Fireplace” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.

A fireplace is the whole recessed structure and chimney where a fire is built, while a hearth is specifically the floor or platform in front of and inside it, usually made of stone or brick. The hearth is one part of a fireplace, not a synonym for it.

A fireplace is built into a wall with an open recess and a chimney, while a stove is a free-standing, enclosed unit that can be placed almost anywhere a flue can be vented. Enclosed stoves are generally more fuel-efficient than an open fireplace fire.

Yes, many modern fireplaces use gas logs or electric inserts rather than burning wood, but the term still describes the recess or surround built for that purpose. The word originally referred to open wood fires but has broadened as heating technology changed.