hearth Hear it!

hearth Definition

hearth (härt̸h)

noun

  1. the stone or brick floor of a fireplace, often extending out into the room
    1. the fireside as the center of family life
    2. family life; home
  3. the part of a brick oven, or of a blacksmith's forge, on which the fire rests
  4. Metallurgy
    1. the lowest part of a blast furnace, on which the molten metal and slag are deposited
    2. the floor of a furnace on which the ore or metal rests for exposure to the flame

Etymology: ME herth < OE heorth, akin to Ger herd < IE base *ker-, to burn, glow > L carbo, coal, Lith kárštas, hot

hearth Synonyms

hearth

n.

  1. A fireplace

    grate, fireside, hearthstone; see fireplace.

  2. Home

    dwelling, abode, residence; see home 1.

hearth Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • tile: Brick fireplace & tiled hearth with fitted wood burner.
  • occupy: A grate of mid to late nineteenth century now occupies the former hearth.
  • raise: Best place to relax: the three giant leather sofas around a raised hearth.
  • surround: Feature fireplace with a stone surround, hearth & mantel with display shelving & recess alongside.

Adjective modifier

  • constructional: It may be necessary to cut out a small trench in front of the constructional hearth to allow the air pipe to be fitted.
  • central: A hole in the roof at its highest point served to let out the smoke from a central hearth.
  • domestic: The domestic hearth is the most basic example of fire.
  • open: Early dwellings had their fires in an open hearth on the floor, in the middle of the main room.
  • original: Accommodation Ground floor: Entrance hall with original kitchen hearth.

Modifies a noun

  • fender: Sit by the fireplace and admire your fender or enhance the fireplace with a hearth fender.
  • rug: He went to see the builder, and sitting on the hearth rug in the front room, counted out the money.
  • furnace: From there the molten iron would be transferred to giant two story high ladles and poured into the open hearth furnaces.
  • tax: An appendix prints a contemporary analysis of hearth tax returns for every county.
  • fire: Many torches and lanterns are lit and hearth fires are kept alight all night.

Noun used with modifier

  • pamment: FAMILY ROOM Wood burning stove on a pamment hearth.
  • flagstone: Electric, fan-assisted stove on Caithness flagstone hearth with wood surround.
  • marble: White Adam style fire surround on marble inset with gas living flame coal effect fire set on marble hearth.
  • slate: Open fire in stone surround on a slate hearth.
  • granite: Bedroom 3. Bunk beds, pine wardrobe, shelving for storage, wicker chair, electric flame effect fire in granite hearth.
  • charcoal: Most or all of the platforms would have been used for charcoal hearths.
hearth Quotes

And, by the incarnation of this verse, Scatter, as from an unextinguished hearth Ashes and sparks, my words among mankind! Be through my lips to unawakened earth The trumpet of a prophecy! O,Wind, If Winter comes, can Spring be far behind?

—Shelley, Percy Bysshe

It little profits that an idle king By this still hearth, among these barren crags, Matched with an age'  d wife, I mete and dole Unequal laws unto a savage race, That hoard, and sleep, and feed, and know not me.

—Tennyson

Where glowing embers through the room Teach light to counterfeit a gloom, Far from all resort of mirth. Save the cricket on the hearth.

—Milton,John

Four spectres haunt the pooröold age, accident, sickness, and unemployment.We are going to exorcise them.We are going to drive hunger from the hearth.We meantobanishtheworkhousefromthehorizonofevery workman in the land.

—Lloyd George (of Dwyfor), David, 1st Earl

Millions drew up before the international hearth of television.

—NewYorkTimes

There lies the port; the vessel, puffs her sail: There gloom the dark broad seas. My mariners, Souls that have toiled, and wrought, and thought with meö That ever with a frolic welcome took The thunder and the sunshine, and opposed Free hearts, free foreheadsöyou and I are old: Old age hath yet his honour and his toil; Death closes all: but something ere the end, Some work of noble note, may yet be done, Not unbecoming men that strove with gods. The lights begin to twinkle from the rocks: The long day wanes: the slow moon climbs: the deep Moans round with many voices.Come, my friends, 'Tis not too late to seek a newer world. Push off, and sitting well in order smite The sounding furrows: for my purpose holds To sail beyond the sunset, and the baths Of all the western stars, until I die. It may be that the gulfs will wash us down: It may be we shall touch the Happy Isles, And see the great Achilles, whom we knew. Though much is taken, much abides: and though We are not now that strength which in old days Moved earth and hearth: that which we are, we are: One equal temper of heroic hearts, Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.

—Tennyson