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

The fire made short work of these too, once the flames hit the elevator shafts that acted like chimneys. —Jacques Kelly, Baltimore Sun, 7 Feb. 2026

Use only chimneys and flues that have been cleaned and inspected annually. —Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 6 Feb. 2026

But they’re also attracted to soft or moisture-damaged wood in your home, such as near chimneys and gutters, window sills, and door frames. —Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 4 Feb. 2026

Southeast Michigan sits in a zone where there is roughly a 2% to 5% chance of experiencing shaking strong enough to crack plaster or damage chimneys over a 50-year period. —Ahmad Bajjey, CBS News, 29 Jan. 2026

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