MANTELPIECE

Pronunciation (US):

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does mantelpiece mean? 

• MANTELPIECE (noun)
  The noun MANTELPIECE has 1 sense:

1. shelf that projects from wall above fireplace

  Familiarity information: MANTELPIECE used as a noun is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• MANTELPIECE (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Shelf that projects from wall above fireplace

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

chimneypiece; mantel; mantelpiece; mantle; mantlepiece

Hypernyms ("mantelpiece" is a kind of...):

shelf (a support that consists of a horizontal surface for holding objects)

Holonyms ("mantelpiece" is a part of...):

fireplace; hearth; open fireplace (an open recess in a wall at the base of a chimney where a fire can be built)

 Context examples 

Finally, to my astonishment, Holmes climbed up on to the massive mantelpiece.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

His head sank back upon the pillow and he gave a deep sigh of relief as I replaced the box upon the mantelpiece.

(His Last Bow, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of reference beside the mantelpiece.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

It was to be a whole-length in water-colours, like Mr. John Knightley's, and was destined, if she could please herself, to hold a very honourable station over the mantelpiece.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

She approached and saw the likeness of Mr. Wickham, suspended, amongst several other miniatures, over the mantelpiece.

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)

I will take this photograph of Blessington, which I see upon the mantelpiece, as it may help me in my inquiries.

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Two wax candles stood lighted on the table, and two on the mantelpiece; basking in the light and heat of a superb fire, lay Pilot—Adele knelt near him.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

What would he not give for one such head to place between the two crossed oars above the mantelpiece in his snuggery at the Albany!

(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

It had formerly been Charlotte's, and over the mantelpiece still hung a landscape in coloured silks of her performance, in proof of her having spent seven years at a great school in town to some effect.

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)

On being asked by a mild boy (not me) how he would proceed if he did begin to see him do it, he dipped a match into his phosphorus-box on purpose to shed a glare over his reply, and said he would commence by knocking him down with a blow on the forehead from the seven-and-sixpenny ink-bottle that was always on the mantelpiece.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)