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

Onlookers learned that a new pope had been elected after white smoke rose from the chimney on the Sistine Chapel that afternoon. —Charlotte Phillipp, People.com, 13 May 2025

On the first evening, the cardinals cast their first-round votes, but black smoke billowed from the chimney, meaning no pope was chosen. —Freddie Clayton, NBC news, 11 May 2025

White smoke billowed from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel in Vatican City on Thursday evening local time, signaling the era of a new pope's reign and the leader of the Catholic Church. —Anthony Robledo, USA Today, 9 May 2025

His restaurant, Ribalta, is a magnet for the Italian fanatics — who would have packed it out for their moment of Serie A glory last week, had a chimney fire not shut the joint down. —Phil Hay, New York Times, 30 May 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