Mantelpiece - Meaning, Definition & English Examples
A mantelpiece is a decorative shelf above a fireplace, often used to display ornaments or family photos. It can also refer to the surrounding framework of the fireplace.
Definition:
A shelf above a fireplace, often used for displaying ornaments or decorations.
Synonyms:
mantelshelf, fireplace shelf, overmantel
Part of Speech:
noun
Antonyms:
floor, hearth
Common Collocations:
wooden mantelpiece, marble mantelpiece, decorate the mantelpiece, above the mantelpiece, carved mantelpiece
Derivatives:
mantel, mantle
Usage Tips:
Use "mantelpiece" to refer specifically to the shelf above a fireplace, not the surrounding structure (which is the "mantel").
Common Phrases:
above the mantelpiece, dust the mantelpiece, decorate the mantelpiece
Etymology:
Derived from "mantle" (a cloak) and "piece," referring to a decorative structure resembling a draped cloth over a fireplace.
Examples:
- 1. She placed a vase of flowers on the mantelpiece.
- 2. The clock on the mantelpiece chimed loudly at midnight.
- 3. He hung a painting above the old wooden mantelpiece.
- 4. Dust collected on the ornaments atop the marble mantelpiece.