hearth

noun

ˈhärth 

1

a

: a brick, stone, or concrete area in front of a fireplace

b

: the floor of a fireplace

also : fireplace

c

: the lowest section of a furnace

especially : the section of a furnace on which the ore or metal is exposed to the flame or heat

2

: home

longed for the comforts of hearth and home

3

: a vital or creative center

the central hearth of occidental civilization

—A. L. Kroeber

Synonyms

• abode
• diggings
• domicile
• dwelling
• fireside
• habitation
• hearthstone
• home
• house
• lodging
• pad
• place
• quarters
• residence
• roof

Examples of hearth in a Sentence

They swept the ashes from the hearth.

all were welcome, friends and strangers alike, to their humble hearth

Recent Examples on the Web

Fill a basket or wood tray with gourds and place them on the hearth or coffee table. —Marni Jameson, The Mercury News, 26 Sep. 2024

The live fire hearth is central to your kitchen at The Wild. —Chelsea Davis, Forbes, 17 Sep. 2024

Archaeologists found several hearths and an earthen floor, likely the backyard of a house. —Aspen Pflughoeft, Miami Herald, 8 July 2024

The Ring of Brodgar is a massive ceremonial stone circle dating back to the third millennium BC, and the Stones of Stenness was once a circle of 12 stones with a central hearth built more than 5,000 years ago, one of the earliest monuments in the British Isles. —Ashley Strickland, CNN, 13 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English herth, from Old English heorth; akin to Old High German herd hearth, and probably to Sanskrit kūḍayāti he scorches

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing hearth

• hearth and home
• open-hearth
• open-hearth process

Kids Definition

hearth

noun

ˈhärth 

1

a

: the area in front of a fireplace

b

: the floor of a fireplace

c

: the lowest section of a blast furnace

2

: home entry 1 sense 1a