chimney

noun

chim·​ney ˈchim-nē 

plural chimneys

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 

adjective

Examples of chimney in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

That being said, chimney cleaning is another task that should be handled by a professional who specializes in that area and has the right tools and knowledge to do it safely and effectively. —Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 31 Aug. 2025

The building suffered a chimney fire in 2018, with damage estimated at $100,000. —Alec Johnson, jsonline.com, 31 Aug. 2025

Open burning, defined as burning materials outdoors where smoke goes directly into the air without passing through a chimney or stack (such as in a bonfire or fire pit), is allowed in Tennessee. —Diana Leyva, Nashville Tennessean, 29 Aug. 2025

When the London Underground was new, Victoria was Queen, chimneys had sweeps and England was more than 2 degrees Fahrenheit cooler. —Laura Paddison, CNN Money, 25 Aug. 2025

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

Phrases Containing chimney

• chimney breast
• chimney pot
• chimney stack
• chimney sweep
• chimney swift
• smoke like a chimney

Kids Definition

chimney

noun

chim·​ney ˈchim-nē 

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