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

Following each vote, Cummings said, smoke is sent up the Sistine Chapel's chimney. —Rachel Raposas, People.com, 28 Apr. 2025

Batches of paper slips representing indecisive tallies are burned using chemicals that produce black smoke from the chapel chimney. —Marc Ramirez, USA Today, 28 Apr. 2025

White smoke shall be released through the chapel's chimney to let those gathered outside know that the process is complete. —Mark Weinstein, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Apr. 2025

Once the new pope is chosen, white smoke will rise from the chapel’s chimney, signaling a new era of leadership for the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics. —Jade Walker, CNN Money, 22 Apr. 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